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COLLECTIONS 



OF THE 



NEW JERSET 



HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 



VOLUME II. 



PRINTED FOR THE 

NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

1847. 



Z&4 /ict 



OFFICERS 

OF THE 

NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

ELECTED 1847. 



Hon. JOSEPH C. HORNBLOWER, LL. D., President, Newark. 
ROBERT G. JOHNSON, Esq., 1st Vice President, Salejn. 
Hon. PETER D. VROOM, 2d " Trenton. 

Hon. JAMES PARKER, 3d " Perth Amboy. 

WILLIAM A. WHITEHEAD, Corresponding Secretary, Neu-ark. 
JOSEPH P. BRADLEY, Recording Secretary, Newark. 
THOMAS J. STRYKER, Treasurer, Trenton. 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

Rev. DANIEL V. McLEAN, Freehold. 

Rev. NICHOLAS MURRAY, D. D., Elizabethfown. 

WILLIAM B. KINNEY, Newark. 

ARCHER GIFFORD, Neioark. 

STACY G. POTTS, Trenton. 

Rev. JOHN MACLEAN, D. D., Princeton. 

LITTLETON KIRKPATRICK, New Brunswick. 

Rt. Rev. GEO. W. DOANE, D.D., LL. D., Burlington. 

ELIAS B. D. OGDEN, Paterson. 



COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS. 

Hon. WILLIAM A. DUER. LL D., 
Rev. NICHOLAS MURRAY, D. D., 
CHARLES KING, 
Rev. ELI F. COOLEY, 
JOHN S. CONDIT, M. D., 
WILLIAM B. KINNEY, 
WILLIAM A. WHITEHEAD. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 




l^. ^^j/^ 



^^trr^;^ 








THE LIFE 



OP 



WILLIAM ALEXANDEK, 



EARL OF STIRLING; 



MAJOR GENERAL IN THE ARMY OP THE UNITED STATES, 
DURING THE REVOLUTION: 



SELECTIONS FROM HIS CORRESPONDENCE. 

BY HIS GRANDSON, 

WILLIAM ALEXANDER DUER, LL. D. 



Actis, aerum implet, non segnibus annis. 

Ovid. 



PUBLISHED FOR THE 

NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 
BY WILEY & PUTNAM, NEW-YORK. 

1847. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, 

By the New Jersey Historical Society, 

In the Clerk's Office of the U. S. District Court for the District of the State of 

New-Jersey. 



Lbatitt, Trow & Co. PmnTSRS, 

33 Ann-street, N. Y. 



TO THE 

NEW JERSEY STATE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI, 

THIS MEMOIR 

OF THE 

LIFE AND SERVICES 

OF THE 

SENIOR OFFICER OF THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMY FROM 
NEW JERSEY, 

Ks respectfully fin.cribtti, 

AS A TRIBUTE DUE TO THAT ASSOCIATION 

OF HIS 

DISBANDED FELLOW-SOLDIERS, 

IN WHICH, 

HAD HE LIVED LONG ENOUGH, 

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN 

AMONG THE FIRST TO ENROL 

HIS NAME. 



PREFACE. 



The chief materials of the following memoir lay for 
many years unknown in the possession of the widow of 
its subject, and were not examined until some time 
after her decease. They w ere then lost sight of for a 
long period, in consequence of a hasty removal from an 
alarm of yellow fever, and when recovered they were 
presented to the Historical Society of New-York, as a 
fit depositary for documents serving to illustrate our 
revolutionary annals. 

As the author is well aware that whatever of value 
or interest may attach to his work will be due to 
the correspondence it embraces, he cannot forbear 
expressing his regret that a number of the most im- 
portant letters in the original collection are not now to 
be found. They were selected from the mass, and laid 
aside for greater security ; but, as not unfrequently hap- 
pens in such cases, they were lost— perhaps, hrough 
the very means intended for their preservation. This 
accident is the more to be lamented, as the letters in 



xiv PREFACE. 

question comprised the correspondence of Lord Stirling, 
both during his residence in England and after his return 
to this country, with the Earls of Chatham, Bute, and 
Shelburne, Mr. Charles Townshend, Mr. Wedderburn — 
afterwards Lord Loughborough — and other British states- 
men, upon American affairs, during a period when most 
of those persons were cabinet ministers, and all of them 
members of Parliament. 

The same packet contained also, what was still more 
valuable, the private correspondence of General Wash- 
ington with Lord Stirling, during the revolutionary war. 
This circumstance will account for the very few letters 
from the former to be found in this publication. Every 
effort has been made, as may be supposed, to recover 
the lost packet, but hitherto without success. Should 
it chance, however, to come to light hereafter, the con- 
tents will be communicated to the public through some 
proper medium. 

The plan adopted in the execution of the present 
work has fortunately left little else for the biographer 
than the task of connecting the letters by a running 
narrative, with explanatory notes and observations, — a 
method recommended not only by approved examples, 
but as calculated to avoid the temptation, as well as the 
suspicion, of partiality, which might otherwise arise 
from the relationship of the author with the subject of 
his memoir. If in any instance, however, his narrative 
has received a colouring from so natural a bias, it can 
hardly escape the attention of his readers, and can never 



PREFACE. XV 

mislead them — inasmuch as they will be able to form 
their own judgments of the character of Lord Stirling 
from the correspondence itself, independently of the 
remarks by which it is accompanied, and to decide upon 
his conduct from the extraneous evidence afforded by 
authentic memorials of the period. 

In committing these pages to the press, the author 
gladly embraces the opportunity of acknowledging his 
obligations to the Historical Society of New-York ; and 
in particular to Prosper M. Wetmore, Esq., Chairman of 
its Executive Committee, for the liberality and courtesy, 
which, by placing the original documents at his disposal, 
have enabled him to avail himself of them in the execution 
of his work. To that body, also, and especially to the 
exertions of one of its most active and efficient members, 
Dr. John W. Francis, the thanks of the public, as well 
as of the author, are due for the recovery of these papers 
on the occasion already referred to. 

Morristovm, N. /., January 8, 1847. 



ADVERTISEMENT. 

The Committee charged with the publication of this volume 
would, in behalf of the New Jersey Historical Society, express their 
obligations to Professor Jared Sparks, LL. D., for his liberality, 
in placing at the disposal of the Society the plates of the battle- 
crounds which illustrate the work. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

Introductiori— Birth of Lord Stirling — His father, James Alexander, a native 
of Scotland — Cause of his emigration to America — Enters office of Secre- 
tary of the Province, on his arrival at New-York — Appointed Surveyor- 
General of New- York and New Jersey— Commences practice of the Law 
■ — Attains eminence as Chamber Counsel — Appointed Attorney-General 
of New Jersey, and a Member of Council in both Provinces — -Distinguishes 
himself as an Advocate in Zenger's case — Excluded from the Bar in New- 
York for the boldness of his defence, and from the Council — Afterwards 
restored — Marries widow of " Ready-money " Provoost — Death of James 
Alexander — Lord Stirling, his only son— His education — Succeeds bis 
father as Surveyor-General of New Jersey — Becomes a merchant, an 
army-contractor, and commissary — Appointed Aid-de-camp and Secretary 
to Gen. Shirley— Accompanies Shirley to England— Examined as a wit- 
ness on his behalf at the Bar of the House of Commons — Letter from 
Charles Townshend— Prefers claim to Earldom of Stirling — Returned 
heir-male of the last Earl — Legal question as to descent of Earldom. 
1716-1759 ] 

CHAPTER IL 

Object of Mr. Alexander in preferring his claim — Assumes the title of Earl of 
Stirling, after opinion of Wedderburn, and other Counsel, in favour of his 
right— Contemplates establishing himself in Scotland — Correspondence with 
Staats L. Morris, the Duchess of Gordon, and others — Hires house in 
London — Resides there some years — Correspondence with Rev. J. Porteous, 
Andrew Stuart, William Trumbull and Philipps Lee — Death of his mother 
— Returns to America. 1759-1761. ....... 27 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER III. 



Lord Stirling resides at first in New- York — Commences building at Basken- 
ridge — Removes to New Jersey — Appointed member of Provincial Coun- 
cil — Corresponds with his friends in England — Letter to the Earl of Bute 
— Other claims to Earldom, not established — Interests himself for King's 
College — Sir James Jay — Correspondence with Lord Romney, the Earl of 
Bute, Thomas Harley, Peter De Lancey, Jr., Ph. Livingston, Jr., John 
Penn, Henry Drummond, William Coxe, R. H. Morris, the Earl of Bute, 
Governor Franklin, William Amherst, and General Gage. 1761-1764. . 50 

CHAPTER IV. 

Attempt to ta.\ America by authority of British Parliament — Opinion of Sir 
Robert Walpole — "Boldness" of George Grenville-^Stamp Act, opposed 
by Lord Stirling — Its repeal — Correspondence wilh Henry Wilmot, Gov- 
ernor Franklin, Captain Kennedy, Philip Livingston, Jr., John Taber 
Kemp, Daniel Coxe, and Chief Justice Smith — The Earl of Perth — Lord 
Drummond — Proprietary rights in New Jersey — Robbery of Treasury 
of that Province — Ford, Cooper, and other counterfeiters — Correspondence 
with Colonel Samuel Ogden — Advertisement of Col. Ogden. 1764-1774. 82 

CHAPTER V. 

Occupations of Lord Stirling at Baskenridge — Opposes ministerial measures 
for taxing the Colonies — Chosen Colonel of a militia regiment — Governor 
Franklin's remonstrance — Lord Stirling's justification — Subsequent cor- 
respondence, and rupture between them — Appointed by Congress to com- 
mand 1st New Jersey regiment in Continental service — Establishes his 
head-quarters at Elizabethtown — Governor Franklin made prisoner — Lord 
Stirling collects recruits and volunteers ; embarks them on board small 
craft ; boards and captures British armed transport — Complimentary Reso- 
lutions of Congress — Correspondence respecting prize — Promoted to be 
Brigadier General — Ordered to New-York. — Succeeds to command of that 
place — Prepares for its defence — Constructs fortifications in harbour, and 
on river above — Calls in Militia — Letter to Colonel Ward — Corresponds 
with General Schuyler — Regulations agreed on with Provincial Congress, 
for defence of City — Corresponds with President of Congress, General 
Washington, and the Governors of Connecticut and New Jersey — Note 
from Dr. Franklin — British land at Gravesend — Battle of Long Island — 
Lord Stirling made prisoner — His letter to General Washington — Letter 
of General Sullivan — Lord Stirling exchanged. 1774-1776. . . 112 

CHAPTER VI. 

Lord Stirling rejoins the army in New Jersey — Commands on the lines — Af- 
fair at Short-liills — Prevents advance of Cornwallis to Morristown — 
Ordered to watch British at Princeton, while Washington attacks Hes- 



CONTENTS. Xi 

sians at Trenton — Promoted to be Major General — Sent again to the 
lines — Engages Cornwallia near Scotch-plains— Defeats his attempt on 
Camp at Middlebrook — Ordered to the Highlands — Recalled on appear- 
ance of British fleet in the Delaware — March of American army to 
Wilmington — Battles of Brandywine and Germantown — Council of War 
—Lord Stirling's opinion — Army encamps for the winter at the Valley- 
Forge. 1776-1777 168 

CHAPTER VII. 

" Conway Cabal ;" exposed by Lord Stirling ; favoured by Congress — Con- 
way appointed Inspector General, Gates and Mifflin to Board of War — 
Conway repairs to army ; received coldly by Washington ; shunned by 
Officers; resigns and returns to France — Wilkinson's account of the affair 
grossly inaccurate — His intrigues and duplicity — Appointed Secretary to 
Board of War ; treated coldly by Gates ; resigns, and quarrels with him — 
Brevetted a Brigadier, but compelled to resign — Appointed Clothier Gen- 
eral Letter of Abraham Clark — Movements of the British — They evac- 
uate Philadelphia ; followed by Washington ; encamp near Monmouth 
Court-House — Battle of Monmouth — Conduct and arrest of General 
Lee British retreat to Sandy Hook — Embark on board of fleet — Re- 
turn fo New- York — Washington advances to the Hudson, crosses the 
river, and encamps at White Plains — Lord Stirling presides at Court- 
Martial on Lee — Sentence suspending Lee approved by Congress — His 
subsequent death. 1777-1778 180 

CHAPTER VIII. 

Arrival of French fleet — Visit to New- York of Lady Stirling end her daugh- 
ter — Their letters to Lord Stirling — He is ordered to New Jersey — Di- 
rects expedition of Major H. Lee against Powles Hook, and covers his 
retreat — Receives thanks of Congress — Letter to General Washington — 
Letter from General Greene — Arrival of another French fleet with Ro- 
chambeau's army — Council of War — Lord Stirling's opinion — Plan for at- 
tacking New- York, formed and abandoned ; renewed the ne.xt year ; 
again relinquished on arrival of De Grasse — Combined American and 
French army marches to Virginia. 1778-1779 199 

CHAPTER IX. 

Lord Stirling ordered to Albany — Takes command of Northern Depart- 
ment — Threatened invasion from Canada — His measures to repel it — Or- 
ders to Generals Van Rensselaer and Gansevoort — Corresponds with Gen- 
eral Stark — Detaches Colonel Wiilet to the Mohawk — British advance by 
Lake George — Lord Stirling repairs to Saratoga, where he concentrates 
his force — Issues order of battle — Receives intelligence of Cornwallis's sur- 
render — British retreat to Canada — Lord Stirling dismisses Militia — Let- 
ters to General Heath, and Colonel Wiilet — Further correspondence with 
Stark— Letter to General Washington. 1779-1781 214 



Xn CONTENTS, 

CHAPTER X. 
Lord Stirling ordered to New JprciPv Tn .^ j • , o, 

Count ALandre d'HanIhe r T' '" '^'' State-Letter from 

I are a Hanache— Correspondence with Colonel Brearlv and 

Governor Livingston OrrI.«r-Prl f-s r^- vi n . , oreariy, and 

-Lieut Col W% ^r !'''"' *°P'"''''^"^'^°^^''°f Officers 

i..eut CoL W S. Sm.th, and Major Matthew Clarkson-Letter to 

Marquis de Bou.lle-Letter from Col. Jame. Monroe-Again orde d t^ 

take command at Albany-Correspondence with Lieut. Col H Dearborn 

from Oene^al Washington tot t.^^::^::;^:^^^ 
ceivmg information of hi. death-His character. ]78i-1783 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Portrait of Lord Stirling, . 

Plan ofthe Battle of Long Island", . ' '. ' ' ' ^^^""'"^S title-page.) 

Plan of the Battle of Brandyvrine,' ..'''' ^^^ 

Plan ofthe Battle of Germantown, ^^^ 

Battle of Monmouth, • . , ^"^"^ 

Order of Battle at Sarafoo-a * ^^^ 

''••••-. 227 



ERRATA. 

On page 2, line 10, for '« where," read mre 

Page 95, Note, dele" the son of." 

Page 113, line 17, for " Sterling," read StirHn^ 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



CHAPTER I. 

1716-1759. 

Among the soldiers of the American Revolution there 
is none, perhaps, of equal rank, whose services have been 
so imperfectly commemorated as those of Major-General 
William Alexander, better known by his title of Lord 
Stirhng. It seems, therefore, not less consonant to jus- 
tice than duty, that one of his descendants should attempt 
to compensate for this neglect ; and by a full but impar- 
tial biography, to illustrate the character and record the 
acts of an officer, who was surpassed by few of his con- 
temporaries in military experience and enterprise, — by 
one only in disinterested and zealous devotion to his 
country — by none in the sacrifices he made for it. 

The subject of this memoir was born in the year 
1726, at the city of New-York. His father, James 
Alexander, was a native of Scotland, and took refuge in 
America, in 1716, in consequence of the part he had 



2 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

taken in favour of the House of Stuart in the rebellion of 
the preceding year. James Alexander was remarkable at 
an early age for proficiency in the mathematics, and skill 
in those branches of practical science which are founded 
or dependent upon them. Thence he obtained some dis- 
tinction as an officer of engineers in the service of the 
Pretender. He seems, however, to have joined the 
standard of that unfortunate adventurer rather from na- 
tional than political predilection : certain it is, that his 
family connections where whig, and that he proved him- 
self a stanch friend of whig principles from the moment 
of his arrival in the colonies. 

At that period too, he enjoyed, through the influence 
of John Duke of Argyle,* the hereditary friend of his 
family, not merely the connivance, but the patronage of 
the provincial representatives of the House of Brans- 
wick. Not long after his arrival at New- York, he re- 
ceived an appointment in the office of the Secretary of 
the Province, " the best school," says Mr. Smith, the 
historian of New-York, " for instruction in matters of 
government." According to the same authority, Mr. 
Alexander " afterwards became equally distinguished for 
his humanity, generosity, great abilities, and honourable 
stations."! 

His mathematical acquirements soon recommended 
him to the appointments of Surveyor General in New- 
York and in New Jersey ; and in 1720, with his coun- 
tryman. Dr. Cadwallader Golden, he was chosen by Gov- 
ernor Burnet,t also a Scotchman, a member of his 

* The "great Duke" of Sir Walter t William Burnet, son of the excellent 

Scott — whose character is portrayed with Bishop of that name, and a son worthy 

historical fidelity in that most delightful of his illustrious sire. He had exchanged 

of fictions" The Heart of Mid-Lothian." the office of Comptroller of the Customs 

t Hist, of New- York, ed. 1830, p. 271. with Governor Hunter for the Govern- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



Council, " in which choice," says the historian, " the 
Governor showed his wisdom, for they were both men 
of learning, good morals, and solid parts." 

Whilst employed in the Secretary's office, Mr. Alex- 
ander found leisure to commence the study of the law, 
which he subsequently pursued in the intervals of his 
labours as Surveyor General. When called to the bar 
he soon became more devoted to his professional busi- 
ness, than to public affairs, though not to the neglect of 
his official duties. According to Mr. Smith, Mr. Alex- 
ander was " by no means distinguished as a public speak- 
er, yet he attained great eminence from his profound 
legal knowledge, sagacity, and penetration, — was regu- 
larly consulted on the most important questions, and his 
replies were received as the answers of an oracle." On 
one signal occasion, however, he gained not less celebrity 
for talents and intrepidity as an advocate, than for the 
soundness of his side-bar opinions — while manifesting 
at the same time the most devoted zeal, and uncon- 
querable perseverance as a patriot. 

With his friend William Smith,* the father of the 
historian, and afterwards Chief Justice of the Province, 

ment of the two Colonies of New Jersey his own. Governor Burnet's family re- 

and New-York, and entered upon his mained in this country. His daughter 

official duties, in the latter Province, in was married to William Browne, Esq.^ 

September, 1720. He is described as of Beverly, Massachusetts, and left a son, 

" polite, sociable, well-read, quick, Intel- William Burnet Browne— who married 

ligent, and well-disposed ;" and his con- a relative of General Washington's, and 

duct certainly formed a strong contrast settled in Virginia— where many of iiis 

with that ofhis military predecessors. He descendants now reside. He also left 

had not their usual rage for making mo- two daughters— one married to a Mr. 

ney nor their rapacity for power. He mar- Hall, of Maryland, and another who 

ried into the Dutch colonial family of Van long lived, and died unmarried in New- 

Horne, and was transferred to the Gov- York. 

ernment of Massachusetts, much to the * They came to America in the same 

regret of the people of New- York, and ship. 



4 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Mr. Alexander volunteered his services as Counsel for 
Peter Zenger, the printer of the "New-York Journal," 
whose trial is famous in our colonial annals. Zenger 
had been arrested and imprisoned for certain publications 
in his newspaper, alleged to be libellous, and was brought 
before Mr. Justice DeLancey upon a writ of Habeas Cor- 
pus — when his Counsel, Messrs. Alexander and Smith, 
objected to the legality of the warrant upon which Zen- 
ger had been committed, and insisted upon his discharge, 
or admission to bail. They prevailed so far as to obtain 
an order for his release upon giving bail, — but the amount 
was fixed at eight hundred pounds, notwithstanding the 
prisoner had sworn that exclusive of his wearing apparel 
and the tools of his trade he was not worth forty. He 
was unable or unwilling to procure the bail required, and 
was of course remanded to prison . The grand jury re- 
fused to indict him ; but an information ex officio was 
exhibited against him by Bradley, the Attorney Gen- 
eral. The Counsel of Zenger excepted to the infor- 
mation on the ground, in the first place, that the com- 
missions of the Judges of the Supreme Court, in which 
it had been filed, ran during pleasure, and not during 
good behaviour ; and secondly, that they had been grant- 
ed by the Governor (Cosby) without the advice and con- 
sent of his Council. The Court not only refused to 
hear the exceptions,* but threw Messrs. Alexander and 
Smith over the bar for presuming to make them ;t nor 

* The Chief Justice (Morris) thought and an intimate friend of Mr. Alexan- 

the exceptions well taken ; but his opin- der's, volunteered and took the lead in his 

ion was overruled by the puisne Judges, defence. The trial took place before De 

De Lancey and Philipse. Lancey — now Chief Justice — and Phi- 

t The Court afterwards assigned Mr. lipse, the two Judges who had overruled 
Chambers as Counsel for Zenger ; and the exceptions ; but Zenger was ae- 
on the trial Andrew Hamilton, an emi- quitted by the Jury. In an article in the 
nent member of the Philadelphia bar American edition of the Edinburgh En- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



were they permitted to resume their practice until the 
next year, when, upon the death of Governor Cosby, 
Mr. Alexander was recalled to his seat in the Council, 
and both he and Mr. Smith were readmitted to the bar. 

In both stations the former continued to maintain 
his reputation, as the constant and fearless advocate and 
defender of popular rights and constitutional principles. 
He stood alone in the Council in opposing the election 
of George Clark, as President of that body — or acting 
Governor of the Province in 1736; and he finally lost 
his life by repairing to Albany, when suffering from se- 
vere illness, to oppose a ministerial scheme oppressive to 
the colonists.* A letter, written not long before his 
death, is preserved in Mr. Sedgwick's Life of Governor 
Livingston, " as one of the very few literary remains of a 
man highly distinguished in his day, but who has left 
but scanty memorials of his character and ability."! 

It was not merely as a lawyer, a politician, or a 
statesman, that Mr. Alexander was distinguished, but 
also as a man of science. He was not only the principal 
author, with Dr. Colden, of the memorable report on the 
Indian trade in defence of the policy of Governor Bur- 
net; but, together with Dr. Franklin, Francis Hopkin- 
son, and others, founded the " American Philosophical 
Society." He maintained, moreover, a constant corres- 
pondence with Halley, the Astronomer Royal at Green- 
wich, and other learned mathematicians in different parts 

cyclopedia— understood to have been t Vide Sedgwick's Life of Living- 
furnished by Dr. J. W. Francis of New- ston. p. 49. It is addressed to John 
York— the learned contributor mentions Taber Kempe, afterwards Attorney Gen- 
that the late Gouvemeur Morris observed eral of the Province of New-York, who, 
to,him, that " the trial of Zenger in 1735 with the younger Smith, Governor Liv- 
was the germ of American freedom." ingston, and James Duane, were at the 
* Vide Smith's History of New- York, same time students at law in the office 
edit. 1830, vol. 2, p. 281. of Mr. Alexander. 



6 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

of Europe, upon subjects relating to their common pur- 
suits — while his skill as a scientific surveyor is attested 
by the instructions given to his subordinates for running 
the line of partition between East and West Jersey. 

About ten years after his removal to this country, 
Mr. Alexander intermarried with the widow of David 
Provoost, who — from his wealth acquired in that illicit 
trade to which the restrictive system of the mother coun- 
try afforded such strong temptations to the colonists as 
to render its pursuit too general to be deemed disreputa- 
ble — had obtained the soubriquet of " Ready-money 
Provoost." After the death of this worthy, his more res- 
pectable relict engaged in lawful commerce on her own 
account, and in her own name, and so continued to con- 
duct it after her second marriage. James Alexander 
died in 1756, leaving an ample provision for his widow, 
and a large but not productive landed estate to be divided 
between his son and several daughters, who survived 
him.* 

The son had received as good an education as the 
provincial schools afforded, with the additional advan- 
tage of private instruction from his father, in those 
branches of science to which the latter was particularly 
addicted, and for which the former had inherited an apt- 
ness and taste. t He did not, however, at first pursue 
them practically; as he entered upon the active business 
of life, first as the clerk, and afterwards as the copart- 

* He had acquired considerable real t In the library of the N Y. Histori- 

estate in the city, and elsewhere in the cal Society may be found a manuscript 

Province of New- York, and was one of account of his observation of the transit 

the Proprietaries of East Jersey. His of Venus in 1769, — after he had suc- 

daughters were Mary, married to Peter ceeded his father as Surveyor Geiieral of 

Van Brugh Livingston ; Elizabeth, marri- New Jersey, 
ed to John Stevens ; Catherine, to Walter 
Rutherford, and Susannah, to John Reid. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 7 

ner of his mother. In the course of their trade the 
firm obtained contracts for the supply of the king's troops 
with clothing and provisions, which led to the junior part- 
ner's joining the commissariat of the army. The zeal, 
activity, and military spirit he displayed in the discharge 
of his duties, in the field, as well as in the camp, at- 
tracted the notice of the commander-in-chief. General 
Shirley, whose staff he was eventually invited to join as 
aid-de-camp and private secretary. In this capacity 
he served during the greater part of the war, which, 
although not formally declared in Europe until 1756, had 
actually commenced on this continent, some years before.* 
It was thus that young Alexander had the early op- 
portunity of acquiring a knowledge of military affairs, 
during three severe campaigns in which he served with 
General Shirley. The following letter from one of his 
friends, who was afterwards a member of the Congress 
that declared independence, shows the footing upon 
which the aid-de-camp was supposed to stand with his 
General. 

Leivis Morris, Jr. to Major William Alexander. 

" Dear Sir, — I beg leave to recommend to you Mr. 
John Duane, who is greatly desirous of entering the 
army. He is a smart active young fellow of about 
twenty-two ; of good fortune, education and spirit ; and 
from the opinion I entertain of him I have no doubt but 
he will make a good officer. As I have an esteem for 
him and his family — with which I suppose you are 

* In this interval, viz. in 1754, Mr. Smith, raised jeeOO to purchase books 

Alexander, together with Philip Living- to lend to the people, which led to the 

ston, Robert R. Livingston, Wm. Liv- establishment of the N. Y. Society Li- 

ingston, John Marvin Scott, and Wm. brary. 



8 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

probably acquainted* — I shall be extremely obliged to 
you if you will be kind enough to apply to his Ex- 
cellency General Shirley on his behalf; and if there is 
a vacancy, to use your influence to procure him a com- 
mission. If there is none at present, be pleased to ac- 
quaint the General that he is willing to enter as a volun- 
teer. If there is any prospect of his promotion, I should 
be glad to have a line from you soon. 

" I am, &c." 

In December, 1755, a Congress of the Provincial 
Governors had assembled at New- York, and agreed to 
raise ten thousand men to enable General Shirley to re- 
duce the posts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, and the 
French forts on Lake Ontario. But nothing was done 
in execution of this agreement. The plans of General 
Shirley were consequently defeated, — and his recall fol- 
lowed. Major Alexander accompanied him to England 
in the autumn of 1756, to aid in the settlement of his 
accounts, and to vindicate by his testimony the character 
of his commander. He was accordingly examined as a 
witness on his behalf at the bar of the House of Com- 
mons, in April, 1757, and his evidence contributed mate- 
rially to the justification of his friend and patron. The 
candour and intelligence of the young American in giv- 
ing his testimony received the marked approbation of the 
House, and contributed, with the influence of Shirley 
and the letters he had brought with him from other mili- 
tary men of rank and family, to facilitate his introduction 

* It would seem from this, that the Continental Congress, the first Mayor of 

person recommended was a relation, — the City of New- York, after the Revo- 

probably a brother of James Duane, an lution ; and the first District Judge of the 

early friend and companion of young U. S., for the District of N. Y., under 

Alexander's, afterwards a member of the the Federal Constitution. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 9 

to some of the most eminent public characters in Eng- 
land; while his conciliatory manners, social accomplish- 
ments, general information, and enlightened views in 
regard to the mutual interests of the mother-country and 
her colonies, recommended him strongly to their esteem 
and confidence. Among the friends distinguished for rank 
and station that he made at this period, was the eloquent 
and ingenious Charles Townshend, the versatility of whose 
talents and temper has obtained a permanent celebrity 
in the splendid eulogy and quaint metaphors of Edmund 
Burke.* The acquaintance between them commenced 
soon after the examination of Mr. Alexander before the 
House of Commons, of which Mr. Townshend was a lead- 
ing ministerial member, and speedily ripened into a friend- 
ship which led to a correspondence, of which it is to be 
regretted that the following letter is all that remains. f 

The Right Honourable C. Townshend to William 
Alexander, Esq. 

" Adderbury, near Bunbury, Oxfordshire, Oct. 1st, 1755. 

" Dear Sir, — I am obliged to you for thinking of 
me in your leisure, and shall be happy to receive you 
here whenever you are so kind as to favour us with your 
company. Our house is never full, nor can it ever be 
more agreeable to us than when you have an apartment 
in it. If General Shirley or Mr. Morris, J or both, can 
persuade themselves to show us the same mark of their 
kindness, they will oblige us also. I have only to hope 

* In his famous speech on American t Vide Preface. 
Taxation. In describing the parliamen- i Robert Hunter Morris, Chief Jus- 
tary eloquence and tact in debate of Mr. tice of New Jersey in 1738, and Gover- 
Townshend, Burke, with his usual fe- nor of Pennsylvania in 1754. 
licity of familiar allusion, observed that 
Mr. Townshend, when he spoke, " took 
the House between wind and water." 



10 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

that you will not only just appear, and then leave us to 
regret, but that you will pass some time with us. 

" The season is too far advanced to expect any but 
laborious shooting ; but I have hounds at command, and 
will attend you if you love that sport, as far as a sober 
hare-hunt, at a prudent hour. If you do not love field- 
sports, there are many fine seats around me ; — within 
doors, there are books, and you may depend upon hav- 
ing the uncontrolled direction of your own thoughts, 
time, and amusements. 

" Thus we live, and if you like to live thus, you can 
nowhere bestow your leisure where it will be more ac- 
ceptable than upon 

Your affectionate and faithful servant." 

It was from the encouragement of Mr. Townshend, 
the Duke of Argyle, and the Earl of Bute, in addition 
to the persuasions of General Shirley, and of his friends 
Messrs. Thomas and John Penn, the Proprietaries of 
Pennsylvania, and of Mr. Morris, their Governor of that 
Province, that Mr. Alexander was induced to lay claim 
to the vacant Earldom of Stirling. His father, before 
leaving Scotland, was known to be the presumptive heir 
to the tide, but not to the estates of Henry the then Earl. 
But upon the death of that nobleman, which happened 
in 1737, James Alexander, not less from the moderation 
of his views than from the circumstances under which he 
had left his native country, made no claim to the succes- 
sion. The son, however, had derived from his father 
and mother together, a considerable inheritance, and had 
acquired by marriage* a fortune, sufficient in those days 

* Before he visited England, he had Philip Livingston, the proprietor of the 
married Sarah, the eldest daughter of manor of that name. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. j j 

for the support of a Scotch Earldom ; and from his age, 
habits, and associates, the rank and title of a nobleman 
had greater attractions for him, than for his wiser and 
more philosophic father. 

He lost no time, therefore, after he reached Great 
Britain, in consulting the most eminent Counsel in Lon- 
don and Edinburgh upon the subject, and after a full in- 
vestigation of his case, he obtained the opinions of Mr. 
Wedderburn, in London, and of Messrs. Ferguson, Prin- 
gle, and Johnston, leading advocates in Edinburgh, in 
favour of his claim. Wedderburn, as is well known, 
commenced his professional career in the Scottish capi- 
tal — but removed to the metropolis of the empire in con- 
sequence of a difficulty with the Scotch Judges. He 
soon attained celebrity and fortune in this new and more 
elevated sphere — entered parliament under the auspices 
of the Earl of Bute, and during the administration of 
Lord North — became in succession Solicitor and Attor- 
ney General — and subsequently Chief Justice of the 
Common Pleas, and Chancellor. On his promotion to 
the bench he was raised to the peerage under the title 
of Baron Loughborough, and, on his retirement, gained 
another step in it, as Earl of Rosslyn, This distin- 
guished person was the principal legal adviser, and be- 
came the personal and confidential friend of Mr. Alex- 
ander. It was by his advice that the latter repaired to 
Edinburgh, in the summer of 1757, furnished with the 
necessary instructions, and with letters of introduction to 
the Counsel there, and to Mr. Andrew Stuart, an eminent 
writer, or solicitor. He remained in Scotland until the 
next year, and having, with the assistance of Mr. Stuart, 
collected the evidence requisite to substantiate his claim, 
he instituted the proper legal proceeding to establish it. 



12 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

During his residence in Scotland, Mr. Alexander formed 
many valuable acquaintances in that kingdom, and found 
there an old friend and companion in arms, in Captain 
Staats L. Morris, a native of New- York, who had en- 
tered the British army early in life,* and was now the 
husband of the Duchess dowager of Gordon. From the 
letters which follow, Mr. Alexander appears to have 
been domesticated at Gordon Castle during a part of 
the time he remained in Scotland. 

Captain Staats L. Morris to William Alexander, Esq. 

" Gordon Castle, January 18th, 1758. 

" Dear Alexander, — I have been honoured with 
two letters from you since we parted — one from Edin- 
burgh, the other from Newcastle — both which gave me 
great satisfaction. The day I left you, I got to Haddo 
House, and staid with Lord Aberdeen till next day after 
dinner. Then went to Aberdourf and staid all night, and 
the next day got here. We were as merry as we could 
be without our agreeable friend Alexander. You make 
the Duchess and myself extremely happy by the kind ex- 
pressions you were pleased to make in your letters. I 
need not repeat my regard and friendship towards you — 
and as for my Duchess, she bids me tell you she values 
your friendship, and as far as she can extend hers, you 
have it, and desires to be remembered to you in the 
kindest manner. 

" I hope this will find you safe in London, and well 
rested after your journey. I cannot flatter myself to 
hear often from you, as I know your business will em- 

* He had served in America under of a General Officer. He was the elder 
Shirley, and rose afterwards to the rank brother of Gouverneur Morris. 

t A seat of the Earl of Morton. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



13 



ploy most of your time ; but I hope you will indulge 
me with a line now and then, to let me know how Mor- 
ris, Penn* and you go on. I have leave from my regi- 
ment to leave this, if 1 shall think proper, the middle of 
this month ; but I fancy I shall not get away before the 
middle of March, when I hope to have every thing set- 
tled to my satisfaction here. — You may keep Lord 
George Beauclerc's order, f for 1 sent one to the Major 
before you left me, and I have got a spare one from 
Barclay. Let me know how you are with regard to 
your health. I was hunting to-day, and we had the 
finest chase you ever saw. The Duke and all the chil- 
dren desire to be remembered to you ; and you have all 
the good wishes in their power to give. My love to my 
dear Morris, — tell him I should be happy in the acquaint- 
ance of his new relations. 

" I am, &;c." 

The Duchess of GordonX to the Same. 

" Gordon Castle, February 3d, 1758. 

" Sir, — Your friend Morris intended to have wrote 
you this evening ; but, being prevented by some busi- 
ness, desired me to make his excuse to you, and will 
write you by next post. 

" I am glad to hear you have got safe to London, 
where I hope you are agreeably entertained. — We all 

* Robert Hunter Morris and John service in Scotland, of which Mr. Alex- 

Penn, the latter of whom was Governor ander's interest in military affairs had 

of Pennsylvania in 1763, and again in induced him to request a copy. 
1773. His brother Richard had also X This lady afterwards accompanied 

been Governor of the same Province, her husband on a visit to his relations in 

They were descendants of William Penn, America, and was long remembered in 

and had succeeded to his proprietary New-York for her masculine habits, 

rights in the Province. blunt manners, frank conversation, and 

t An order relating to the recruiting good heart. 



]4 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

regret much the loss of your good company at this place, 
and think ourselves much obliged by your kind remem- 
brance of us. The boat was launched on the Spy on 
the king of Prussia's birth-day, and sailed round by sea 
to Loch Spyrie, where she now rides at anchor. All 
your friends here join in compliments to you. 

" I am, &c." 

The following, of a different character, was from an 
old family friend, who had been in America. 

Patrick Greeme, Esq. to the Same. 

" Perth, February 3d, 1758. 

" Dear Sir, — When 1 had the pleasure of seeing 
you here, we promised to write to one another ; and 
having been some time in expectation of hearing from 
you of your safe arrival in London, but not being fa- 
voured with that, I would delay writing no longer. 

" The great esteem 1 always had for your father, and 
the mutual friendship that ever subsisted between us, 
makes me more anxious to hear of your good health and 
prosperity than god-fathers commonly are^ of which I 
hope you will acquaint me on receipt of this : and pray 
advise me if my very good friend and old acquaintance 
Governor Hamilton* be come to London — to whom, if 
he be, make my hearty compHments, and let me know 
how he is. — I should be glad, also, if you would let me 
into the Pennsylvania affairs that are carrying on in Lon- 
don ; if Isaac Norris and Benjamin Franklin, Mr. Penn's 
opponents, be in London, and what steps they are taking. 
I hope Mr. Penn, with his two late Governors,! will be 

* Andrew Hamilton, Deputy Go- t Hamilton and Morris, 
vernor of Pennsylvania in 1748, and 
President of the Province in 1771. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 15 

able to overset all their measures. My acquaintance 
with your friend Governor Morris being but small, and 
many years ago, I am afraid he may have forgot me. 
However, please to make my humble compliments to 
him. I was much better acquainted with his father. I 
hope he and Governor Hamilton will support you, with 
Mr. Penn, in the memorandum you were so kind as to 
take in your pocket-book, for a patent in favour of my 
brother in Philadelphia, and my son John. I hope my 
brother's conduct in his office has been such that the 
honourable family never mean to remove him — at least, 
that this proposal of mine will be no prejudice to him. 
1 desire, in a special manner, that you will make my 
humble duty and compliments to Mr. Penn. It gave 
me real concern to hear of the death of his son some 
months ago. I shall be glad to know how he and his 
family are, and what children he has alive. 

" When you write to New-York, make my compli- 
ments to your mother in the best manner, who, I am 
certain, will remember me well. I shall be glad to know 
what steps you took in Edinburgh towards your title. 
If in this country I can be of any service to you, I ex- 
pect you will freely command me, having it truly at 
heart to serve you. 

" I am, &c." 

The answer to the above letter is inserted in this 
place, though out of the order of its date, as in comply- 
ing with the request of his correspondent, contained in 
the last paragraph, Mr. Alexander mentions the pro- 
gress he had made in the affair which carried him to 
Scotland. 



16 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

William Alexander, Esq. to Patrick Grceme, Esq. 

" New Bond Street, April 24th, 1758. 

" Dear Sir, — I had the pleasure of receiving your 
letter of the 23d of February, soon after the date of it. 
I should long before have wrote to you in return, but be- 
ing in daily expectation of seeing Governor Hamilton, I 
put it off from day to day until I could have that oppor- 
tunity : nothing else should have made me so long ne- 
glect cultivating a correspondence which 1 much value. 
The mutual friendship which subsisted between yourself 
and my father, and the worthy character you have al- 
ways sustained, are sufficient to make that correspond- 
ence more than agreeable to me. 

" I heartily wish it had been in my power to have 
effected the matter we conversed about for your son 
John. Soon after my arrival from Scotland, by lights I 
drew from Governor Morris and Mr. Penn, I judged the 
thing impracticable, and since seeing Governor Hamil- 
ton, I am confirmed in that opinion. He tells me that 
the reversion of the office has for many years been en- 
gaged. However, there is not the least complaint 
against your brother's conduct in office, and I suppose 
he will hold it for life. Mr. Hamilton will write to you 
by this post on the subject. 

" As to the affairs of Pennsylvania, the Assembly 
have, for many years, been demanding unreasonable con- 
cessions from the Proprietaries. They, on the other 
hand, have as constantly refused them. This, in its 
course, has been worked up to a state of feeling that has 
produced anarchy, confusion, and great mischiefs in the 
Province. The Assembly, on their part, have sent home* 

* It can scarcely be necessary to ap- the Revolution, in a sense which would 
prise the reader, that this word " home " now be rendered abroad. 
is here used according to custom before 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING i- 

Mr. Franklin,* to represent what they call their griev- 
ances. He has hitherto made no application to the 
Government; but has delivered the "heads" to Mr. 
Penn, who has laid the matter hefore the Solicitor and 
Attorney General for their opinion, whether consistently 
with the safety of his estate, with the power given him 
by the Crown, and the nature of the English Govern- 
ment, he can comply with their demands — which, I sup- 
pose, will be answered in the negative— and that Mr. 
Franklin's next step will be to apply to the King in 
Council.— While the Proprietaries had men of sense and 
virtue for their Governors, and while Franklin was at the 
head of the Assembly, they were kept within bounds ; 
but since they have had a Governor, who is worse than 
a fool,t and since Franklin has been on this side of the 
water, they are grown frantic. They have imprisoned 
a number of the inhabitants of Philadelphia — most of 
them without any cause ; though their pretence is inde- 
cent behaviour — laughing in their presence. 

" As to the affair of my title in Scotland, it has been 
retarded for want of some written evidence of a matter 
of which before we had only traditional proof. By my 
last letters from Mr. Stuart, my Doert at Edinburgh, I 
am informed that he had procured such corroborating evi- 
dence as is sufficient to enable him to venture the ser- 
vice,^ and by the help of papers in the Duke of Argyle's 
charter-room— of which I have now the use — all difficul- 
ties, I hope, will be put an end to. Mr. Stuart has taken 

* Mr. Benjamin— afterwards Dr. — § A proceeding in the Scotch law in 

FranliUn. the nature of an Inquisition, held on the 

t William Denny, Lieut. Governor death of an ancestor, to ascertain by the 

from 1756 to 1759. verdict of a jury the person entitled to 

t Scotice for agent or man of busi- the succession as next heir. 



ness. 



jg THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

out the brieves for the process, and the affair will, I be- 
lieve, be soon finished. 

« I am, &c." 

The proceeding above referred to, partook, however, 
of the delays for which the law is proverbial, and was 
not terminated in less than a year. The following let- 
ters, written in the interval, are inserted from their 
reference to a document which was deemed important 
in the settlement of the Northeastern boundary between 
the United States and the British possessions, by the 
Ashburton treaty. 

The Same to Mr. Andrew Stuart* 

"London, November, 1758. 

"Dear Sir, — I hope you will think I offer a very 
good excuse for not acknowledging your favour of the 
5th of October sooner, when I tell you that about the 
time it came to hand, I was hunting in Oxfordshire, 
and being in full chase over a slippery piece of ground, 
my horse's heels flew up, and of course down came your 
humble servant ; the consequence of which was a vio- 
lent contusion on my right shoulder,! and a total disa- 

* This gentleman seems to have en- " Tell Hume he is so much worshipped 
joyed a station in the society of Edin- here, that he must be void of all passions 
burgh, above that usually conceded to if he does not immediately take post for 
men of his profession, and which must Paris. In most houses where I am ac- 
probably have been acquired by his lit- quainted here, one of the first questions 
erary and social accomplishments. In is, ' Do you know Monsieur Hume whom 
a letter of his to Sir William Johnstone, we all admire so much V I dined yes- 
dated from Paris in December, 1762, and terday at Helvetius's, where this same 
of which an extract is given in an arti- Monsieur Hume interrupted our conver- 
cle entitled " Passages in the Life of Da- sation very much." 
vid Hume," in a late number of the Dub- t This accident happened during a 
lin University Magazine, he says: — visit to Charles Townshend. 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. J 9 

bility of writing until within these few days. It is now 
better ; and one of its first employments is to give evi- 
dence of my gratitude for the friendship you have shown 
in the prosecution of the business under your care. 
The reasons you give for not bringing on the service, are 
quite satisfactory, and are the highest evidence to me of 
your regard for my real interest. 

" There is no late news from America, but I am in 
daily expectation of hearing of the reduction of Fort Du 
Quesne. If any thing of importance occurs, I shall in- 
form you. 

" I some time since instructed Mr. Dagge* to write to 
you for a copy from the records of the Laigh Parliament 
House, of a grant from James VI. to Sir William Alex- 
ander, for the country of Nova Scotia, it being wanted 
in some measures the ministry are about to take with 
respect to the boundaries of that Province ; but I find 
Mr. Dagge, not rightly understanding me, has neglected 
mentioning it to you. It is now much wanted ; and I 
must therefore desire you will, as soon as possible, send 
me a fair copy of it, properly authenticated, according 
to the custom of Scotland. 

" I am, &c." 

Mr. Andrew Stuart to William Alexander, Esq. 

" Edinburgh, 5th December, 1758, 

" Dear Sir, — By the last and preceding posts I am 
favoured with two letters from you, and in obedience to 
the first of these, I went to the Laigh Parliament House 
to search among the records for the original grant of 
Nova Scotia, which I found, and expect to be able to 

* His Solicitor in London. 



20 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

send you by the next post. There is a lad close at 
work copying it from the record, but the charter being 
very long, it could not possibly be got ready to-night. 

" I do not purpose at this time to take up your time 
with any further particulars about your own affairs, as 
in a post or two I am to send you a state of the proof, 
such as we are to lay before the jury, and Mr. Johnston's 
opinion thereon, — in whose hands the papers have been 
for some time past. T shall only tell you at present, that, 
now our evidence is collected, Mr. Johnston has a fa- 
vourable opinion of it, and thinks we have, as far as 
could well be expected in so remote a matter, sufficient 
to satisfy a jury. I have been bespeaking Lord Dun- 
donald and some others of your acquaintance to be on 
the jury ; and intend to write to Mr. Murray, of Aber- 
cairny, to come to town on the occasion, who, I imagine, 
will not decline this piece of trouble. We would wish 
to have the jury composed of the most creditable people. 

" Captain Morris came to town late on Saturday 
night from Dunkeld, and returned home early yesterday 
morning alongst* with the young Duke of Gordon and his 
brother, who came to town early on Sunday night. I 
had not an opportunity of seeing Captain Morris this last 
time he was in town, but have this night forwarded your 
letter to him at Dunkeld, where he now is. I had called 
on him on Sunday to pay my respects ; — he happened 
not to be at home, and the Duke of Gordon and his 
brother had not yet come to town ; the people of the 
house imagined he was to stay in town some days, and 
when I called next morning, was so unlucky as to miss 
him. 

" I am, &c." 

* According to the Scotch orthogra- oms occur — as will be observed — in Mr. 
pby. Many Scottish expressions and idi- Stuarl's letters. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



21 



The service was not completed until the spring of 
1759, when the favourable result of the proceeding 
was immediately communicated to Mr. Alexander by 
his Solicitor. 

The Same to the Same. 

" Edinburgh, 24th March, 1759, 

" Dear Sir, — Allow me to wish you joy upon your 
affairs here being brought to a happy period. I had re- 
solved never to write to you until the service was over. 
To tell you what rubs we met with, that occasioned the 
delay, would give you very little entertainment ; all I 
can propose to do to-night, at this late hour, is to let you 
know that every thing has ended to our Avishes, and that 
you will have a particular account of the whole from me 
by next post, with the memorials and answers rela- 
ting to it. We had a most creditable jury — of the best 
gentlemen in town, who, with one voice, have found you 
nearest male-heir to the last deceased Earl of Stirling. 
I must break off to give this letter a chance of catching 
the post. 

'^ I am, &c." 

The Same to the Same. 

•' Edinburgh, 28th March, 1759. 

" Dear Sir, — With this you will receive a packet of 
papers which 1 intended to have sent by last post, but 
they could not all be got ready. The return of your 
service from the Chancery is not yet sent me ; but the 
people at the office have promised to send it to me this 
night, so that it may be forwarded to you with this. 

" The papers now sent you, are (No. 1) a memo- 



22 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

rial* laid before Mr. Ferguson in December last ; (No. 2) 
his answerf to it ; (No. 3) a new memorial made up in 
the month of March, after the evidence was completed, 
— and (No. 4) answers by Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Solicitor 
Pringle,t and Mr. Johnston to this new memorial. A 
copy of the depositions was formerly sent you, so that, 
from those and the papers now sent, you will have a 
pretty good view of the whole case. That it may be 
better understood, I likewise send you a tree showing 
the several branches of the family. We had several 
copies of this tree made out to put into the hands of the 
jury, that they might more readily apprehend the con- 
nection ; and, to give more force to the evidence, the 
witnesses related to the family are distinguished in the 
tree, to point out the nearness of their own relation, 
whereby they would have access to know or learn the 
facts they depose to. 

" From the answers (No. 4) to the first memorial, 
you will observe there was a difference about the suffi- 
ciency of our proof in the remote parts of our propin- 
quity, viz., John Alexander's relation to the (first) Earl 
of Stirling. This made us defer the service, and make 
many searches for some written evidence on that point. 
We found something to increase the probability, but not 
absolutely conclusive. In Mr. Ferguson's answers, he 
suggested that it would be of use to have some evidence 
of the common fame of the country, about your branch 
being relations of the Earl of Stirling, from witnesses 
that were in no ways related to the family. We had 
the happiness to succeed in this, having examined two 
very old men, who remembered the common fame in the 
country a great many years back. 

* Or statement of the case. \ Afterwards raised to the bench by 

t Hia opinion on the case submitted. the title of Lord Alenioor. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 23 

" Having exhausted the searches of the records, and 
amongst the papers of the family of Argylc, of Mr. 
Abercrombie of Tulliebody, and of every other place 
where papers relating to the family of Stirling could be 
expected to be found, and having examined all the wit- 
nesses we could hear of, it was in vain to delay the ser- 
vice any longer. I therefore wrote for Mr. Porteous* 
and Mr. Thomsonf to come to town, to be present at 
the service. When they came, there was a necessity of 
having the service delayed a few days, by reason that 
some of our jury could not attend, and I was resolved 
that we should not have the matter brought before any 
jury but one composed of the most creditable gentlemen 
in the country. An improper choice of a jury would 
have given a bad aspect to the whole. I found that 
several gentlemen of the jury were desirous that the 
whole evidence should be previously considered by the 
most eminent Counsel here, and their opinion taken in 
writing whether it was sufficient to entitle you to be 
served heir-male. Accordingly, I made up the memo- 
rial No. 3 upon the whole proof, and after being fre- 
quently with Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Pringle, and Mr. John- 
ston on the subject, they gave their joint opinion, 
whereof a copy is now sent you. Several copies of the 
memorial No. 3 were made out and put into the hands of 
the jury, and the opinion of the Counsel was shown to 

• The Rev. Jamrs Porteous, Minister From the character of the son, as exhib- 

of Monyvard, in Perthshire, who mar- i'ed in his letters and those of Mr. Stu- 

ried into the family of Alexander. He ait, he seems to have borne a much 

was the son of Captain John Porteous, stronger resemblance to the Reuben But- 

commander of the municipal guard of ler of ihe Novel, than to his own father. 
Edinburgh, whose lynching by the mob t Writer in Crief, near Stirling, who 

of that city is used with so much effect had been employed by Mr. Stuart in 

by Sir Walter Scott in his beautiful fTc- making searches in the records of that 

tion of the " Heart of Mid Lothian." city. 



24 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

most of them. These greatly facilitated the service ; 
and the jury were unanimous in finding you the nearest 
male-heir to the last Earl of Stirling. 

" Your relation to the Earl of Stirling being now 
established, the next thing to be considered, is, how far 
it entitles you to the peerage ? This, I fancy, must be 
gone about with great deliberation, and after taking the 
opinions of the most eminent Counsel in England and 
Scotland. I am told there would be little doubt that in 
Scotland, a patent not confined to the heirs-male of the 
body, would go to the heirs collateral, but that the case 
is otherwise in England. One would reasonably think 
that the laws and customs of Scotland would regulate 
questions relating to Scotch peerages, excepting so far 
as altered, either by the Articles of Union, or by express 
Act of Parliament ; and as the rights of heirs-male col- 
lateral, and the interpretation of patents, is not affected 
either by the one or the other, the laws of Scotland 
should take place in this case.* 

" If you intend to lay claim to the peerage in conse- 
quence of the service, I am humbly of opinion that the 
most proper method will be to have the opinion here of 
the most eminent Counsel, upon the laws and custom of 
Scotland with regard to peerages granted to heirs-male 
general, in virtue of patents similar to the Earl of 
Stirling's. I have already learnt some instances that 

* It had appeared from the proofs be- from the first Earl. The question there- 
fore the jury of service, that Mr. Aiex- fore now arising was, whether, since the 
ander was lineally descended from an union, the laws of Scotland had given 
uncle of the first Earl of Stirling. The place to the law of England in regard to 
direct male line of the latter had failed the descent of Scottish peerages. Lord 
upon the death of his great-grandson, Thurlow was the only great lawyer of 
Henry Earl of Stirling, in 1737, without the day who contended that it had. But 
leaving an heir-male of his body, or any not until many years afterwards, 
collateral male heir lineally descended 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 25 

happened before the union of the kingdoms, and upon 
further inquiry expect to get many more. I shall not 
take any steps towards advising Counsel on this point, 
until receiving your orders, being uncertain whether you 
intend to lay claim to the peerage upon the general 
words of the patent. 

" Just now the return of your service is sent me from 
the Chancery, — which you will receive inclosed. By it 
you will see who the gentlemen were that have been so 
good as to favour me with their attendance on this occa- 
sion. They are all very well known to Mr. Wedder- 
burn, to whom you will please to show this letter, and 
the papers now sent. He will be able to judge what 
are the proper steps to be taken. 

" I cannot conclude this letter without telling you 
how much we have been obliged to Mr. Porteous, the 
minister of Monyvard. He has grudged no trouble or 
time in this affair — came to town, and staid several days 
on purpose. It was with great difficulty I prevailed on 
him to let his charges to town be paid by Mr. Thomson, 
and he would not accept of any thing further from me 
to indemnity his charges and consumpt of time. He 
was excessively happy at having every thing brought to 
so good a bearing. I send you inclosed a copy of the 
account I have paid to Thomson, the writer at Crief : it 
is as moderate as could be stated in proportion to the 
trouble I was obliged to give him. There has been vari- 
ous other articles of necessary expense incurred upon 
this occasion ; but I am sure there are none that could 
have been avoided in a matter so diffused, and that re- 
quired such investigation. I shall not trouble you with 
further particulars this night. If there is any thing in 
the proofs or procedure that you think requires to be 



26 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

further explained, I beg you will acquaint me ; and the 
reason of the infrequency of my letters no longer sub- 
sists, you will find me a more regular correspondent than 
heretofore. 

« I am, &c." 



CHAPTER II. 



1759-1761. 



The object of Mr. Alexander in procuring himself 
to be judicially recognized as the heir-male of the de- 
ceased Earl of Stirling, was by no means limited to the 
attainment of the peerage. His main purpose was to 
obtain the acknowledgment and possession of certain 
territorial rights of property and jurisdiction in America, 
which had been granted to his ancestors, and which he 
conceived to have devolved on him with the title. He 
did not, however, assume the latter until it had been con- 
ferred on him by his correspondents, and he had received 
the opinion of Mr. Wedderburn and his Scottish Counsel 
that his case was governed by the laws and customs of 
Scotland antecedent to the Union. He seems, at this 
period, to have contemplated purchasing an estate in that 
kingdom, and after a short visit to America, for the pur- 
pose of settling his affairs, to have established himself 
permanently in Great Britain. But the sequel will ex- 
plain the reasons which determined him to abandon that 
intention. 

The Rev. James Porteous to the Earl of Stirling. 

"Monyvard, April 21st, 1759. 

" My Lord, — I have been this week in Stirling, and 
took a particular inspection of the house of the first Earl 
of Stirhng, which now belongs to the Duke of Argyle — 



28 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

whereof he makes nothing, and never visits it. It is a 
fine situation, and has a grand prospect over the most 
beautiful country and river in the kingdom. A perfect 
trifle would furnish therein a small lodging, which would 
answer jour purpose, until you proposed to reside with 
us in Perthshire ; and if you intended a grand house, 
the materials would save two thousand pounds. I am 
persuaded his Grace would sell it for a trifle. 

" There are two small estates, viz., Newton, and 
Pleam, in the County of Stirling, worth eight hundred 
pounds sterling per annum. Land is still improving 
with us, and we generally can lose nothing if we buy at 
twenty-flve years purchase. I presume to give you 
these hints as you go soon to America. You are happily 
provided with Mr. Stuart as a Doer in Edinburgh ; and 
if you have any business at Stirling you may trust Wil- 
liam Danskin, a merchant there — not so much because 
he is married to a distant relation of ours, as because of 
his integrity, skill, and friendly disposition. Wishing 
you a safe voyage, and happy return, 

" I am, &c." 

William Trumbull, Esq, to the Same. 

" Easthampstead Park, July 15th, 1759. 

"My Lord, — If your Lordship has not already ap- 
pointed all your Chaplains, I should be obliged to you if 
you would give me leave to recommend a particular friend 
of mine. I hope you will be so good as to excuse the 
liberty I have taken.* 

" I am, &c." 

' The advantage resulting from such holding a plurality of livings in the 
an appointment, was the privilege en- Church of England, 
joyed by the chaplains of noblemen of 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. gg 

The Same to the Same. 

" Easthampstead Park, July 25th, 1759. 

" My Lord, — 1 received the favour of your most 
obliging and genteel compliance with my request, and 
should not have deferred sending my acknowledgments 
for it, had I not waited until my friend came hither, that 
I might send you his proper title. His name is the Rev- 
erend George Palmer, Clerk, A. M., Vicar of St. Mary's 
in Marlborough, Wilts. He desires me to send you his 
thanks for your very kind favour. 

" 1 hope 1 shall be in town the beginning of next 
week, when we shall both pay our respects to you, and 
shall at all times be happy to see your Lordship here. 

"I am, &c." 

The writer of the last two letters was the grandson 
of the former Earl of Stirling, one of whose daughters 
and coheiresses married Sir William Trumbull, a Secre- 
tary of State in the reign of William HI. and the friend 
and correspondent of Pope, who wrote his epitaph.* 
It was in consequence of a negotiation with this gentle- 
man, and a Mr. Lee, the son of the other daughter, 
and coheiress of the deceased Earl, for the purchase of 
their American claims, and the hope of obtaining their 
confirmation, through the influence of the Duke of Ar- 
gyle, the Earl of Bute, and his other friends connected 
with the Government, that Lord Stirling was induced to 

* "Epitaph on Sir William Trum- An honest courtier, yet a patriot too ; 
bull, who died at his retirement at East- '"f ":° »>'« "rinee, an.l to his country true : 

Filled with tho sense of ago, the fire of youth, 
hamsted in Berkshire, 171G." A scorn of w-rangiing, yet a zeal for truth ; 

A generous faith, from sui)erslilion free ; 
" A pleasing form ; a firm, yet cautious mind ; A love to peace, and hate of tyranny ; 

Sincere, though prudent; constant, yet resigned ; Such this man was: who now from earth 
Honour unchanged, a principle professed, moved. 

Fixed to one lide, but moderate to the rest ; At length enjoya that liberty he loved." 



30 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

postpone his return to America. He now hired a house 
in London, and resided there for some years, in the full 
enjoyment of the pleasures of London society, with the 
peculiar advantages of his position. During this period, 
the correspondence of his zealous friend, and vigilant 
and indefatigable professional agent in Scotland, was 
continued. 

Mr. Andrew Stuart to the Earl of Stirling. 

"Edinburgh, September 11th, 1759. 

" My Lord, — The last letter I had the honour to 
receive from you, was of so old a date that I am ashamed 
to mention it. — Being later than any from me, it proves 
me guilty of too long silence. I have been the great- 
est sufferer by the want of your correspondence, but of 
late I have had the pleasure of hearing of you frequently 
by my brother, whom I am glad to find has been often 
with your Lordship while at London. 

" In your last letter you was pleased to desire me to 
draw upon you immediately for my reimbursement of 
money advanced on your account, and to mention my 
banker. By the business of the Sessions here, and 
some other affairs which engaged my time and attention 
of late, your commands have not been obeyed as soon 
as they ought to have been. I now send inclosed to 
your Lordship, the accompt of depursements and writ- 
ings, &:c. When your Lordship fills up the blank, which 
is left for such sum as your Lordship thinks proper to 
allow me for my pains, be pleased to pay the amount to 
the accompt of my friend Harry Drummond, whose dis- 
charge will be equally good with my own. 

" The memorial made up in London, which you sent 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 3| 

me after the service, has been frequently perused ; and 
it seems to me to be very neatly drawn, and much to 
the purpose. From the precedents and arguments there 
stated, one would think it most agreeable to reason that 
a patent, not limited to heirs male of the body of the 
patentee, should transmit the title to heirs male collate- 
ral, in the same manner that the right to real estate 
would by such words be carried to collaterals. If the 
law of Scotland is to regulate the case, the argument 
will be strong on your side. 

" I hear you mean to apply by Petition, so as to have 
the matter tried at the bar of the House of Lords. I 
cannot help thinking that this measure should be avoided 
for many reasons. The Earl of Stirling is already on the 
roll ; and, in such cases, it has not been usual to have 
recourse to the method by petition. Does it not insinu- 
ate a diffidence of the title, your making use of a dif- 
ferent mode than that observed in indisputable peerages, 
where those who enjoy the title do not suppose any ob- 
jections against themselves, but barely rely upon the 
goodness of their title to defend against any objections 
that may happen to be made ? Has not your Lordship 
the same reason to rely on your title ? And if ever ob- 
jections are made at the election of Peers, or any other 
occasion, then you can be allowed to answer them as 
fully and to as good effect as at present. Is it not put- 
ting yourself to a great deal of expense and trouble that 
may probably be saved ? For it is most likely that no 
objection will ever be made ; — the rather that the 
objection on the terms of your Patent, would affect 
several peers in the same situation, who at present enjoy 
their titles unmolested ; whereas by making it a matter 
of dispute at present, you will, at great charges, fight a 



32 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

battle for many of the Scotch peers in similar situations, 
who will give no aid in supporting it. Besides, if the 
matter comes before the House of Lords, or is referred 
to the King's Counsel, they will think themselves obliged 
to state every possible objection, both to the terms of 
the patent, and the evidence of propinquity, and you 
may be put to great charges in calling up witnesses, &:c. 

" I think it my duty to write to you whatever occurs 
to me in your affairs ; but no doubt you have access to 
much better advice where you are. I only pretend to 
suggest things for your consideration ; and when you 
favour me with a letter, would be glad to know what 
are the reasons for the propriety of an application to the 
House of Lords. 

" There are at present some friends of mine, in the 
next room, who desire to be remembered to your Lord- 
ship : Lord Dundonald, and Sir Robert Henderson, 
desire me to say they will not accept of so short a visit 
as you paid them when last in Scotland. May we flatter 
ourselves with the hope of a visit to this part of the 
world before next winter ? 

" I am, &c." 

The Same to the Same. 

" Edinburgh, October lOlh, 1759. 

" My Lord, — About a month ago, I had the honour 
to write to your Lordship, and as 1 have no account of 
my letter's coming to hand, begin to be afraid it has 
miscarried. Not knowing your particular direction, 
I directed the letter and the pacquet therewith to Harry 
Drummond, from whom I have heard nothing of his re- 
ceiving them ; although at the same time I wrote to him 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING, 33 

that the pacqiiet contained an accompt for uiiicli he 
was to grant a rc^ceipt in my name. 

'•• In the letter which I sent to your Lordship, ah)ngst 
witli the pacfjuet, I stated fully what occmrccl to me 
in relation to what I heard was proposed about ap- 
plying to tile House of Lords, for tiieir Judgment about 
your right to tlu^ peerage. I stated some reasons that 
seemed to me to weigh against making it a matter of 
debate before the House of Lords: iiowever, if your 
Lordship is resolved or advised to bring it there, 1 think 
it would be of great moment to have the signed o])ini()n 
of the most eminent Counsel here concerning" the; iisai^e 
that obtained in Scotland before the Union, in the \\\W.x- 
pretation of patents similar to that whereon you claim; 
for if it be once ascertained that according to the laws 
of Scotland, heirs-male collateral would before the Union 
have enjoyed a peerage not expressly limited to the heirs 
male descended of the patentee's body, the only thing 
remaining, would be to show that the treaty of Union 
was not meant to innovate any rights or privileges of 
Scotch peerages further than is mentioned in the Articles 
of Union themselves. 

" Mr. Ferguson, our most eminent Counsel here, and 
one very much conversant with our anticjuities and history, 
is one whom I would recommend to be advised on this 
occasion; and that a case should be laid before him, col- 
lecting what materials can be foinid in the records here, 
proper for his consideration. It uould, at the same 
tinje, be ])roper to lay before him the case you sent me 
from London, \\ hich, in a U^w pages, has given a very 
distinct view of the state of the question, and the argu- 
ments it will j)robably turn iij)on ; but as that case refers 
to decisions and similar cases of peerages in Scotland, 

3 



34 THE LIFE OP^ LORD STIRLING. 

without any evidence of the cases referred to, it would 
be necessar)' to obtain from the records here, the evi- 
dence properly authenticated of the terms of the patents, 
and of tlie proceedings held upon any of the cases that 
were disputed. To get these from our records here, 
will be very expensive, and unless there is to be a trial 
before the House of Lords, I think would be unneces- 
sary. I shall not, therefore, take any steps in this search 
of the records, or in advising Counsel, until receiving your 
commands. If the case is to be argued, I fancy it will 
likewise be necessary that there be an authenticated copy 
of the evidence taken at Crief, and elsewhere, concern- 
ing the propinquity, which, no doubt, the House of Lords 
will expect to be laid before ihem. 1 beg to have your 
Lordship's directions with respect to the above particu- 
lars as soon as convenient, and to know whether my 
former letter has come to hand. 

" I am, &c." 

The Earl of Stirling to Mr. Andrew Stuart. 

" London, October 27th, 1759. 

" Dear Sir, — Since I received your letter of the 1 1 th 
of September, I have been hindered from answering it 
by a variety of incidents — some of which I hope you 
have been informed of by our friend H. Drummond, 
who promised me to make my excuses to you ; and 
since the receipt of yours of the 10th instant, I have 
been waiting for a conference with Wedderburn, who is 
chiefly at Windsor, before 1 could answer it. I saw him 
a day or two ago, and he has promised me a meeting 
soon on the subject with our friend Mr. Johnston. 

" As for my own part, I have lone, since been fully 
of opinion that any petition from me to the Crown would 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 35 

be very improper ; for I cannot help thinking that I have 
already gone through all the forms that the laws of my 
country require, to put me in possession of my title, un- 
til objections are made at an election of peers ; and on 
this footing I would choose to have left it : nor have I yet 
heard any thing that had the appearance of a reason 
why it should not be so. On the contrary, I have urged 
the very arguments you mention in your letters, and the 
only answer I could get to them was, " You must peti- 
tion, or the Lords will notice it in a manner that will 
be disagreeable to you." — " What must I petition for r 
The foundation of all the precedents of petitions is re- 
moved in my case ; for the title is on ihe roll, and I have 
no competitor. It is hard to petition when I have 
nothing to ask for ; — a petition without a prayer seems 
strange to me." This was my language to a certain 
great man* — but petition I must, and " as to the prayer, 
let it be that his Majesty would declare and establish it." 
To end the controversy, I have petitioned. A copy of 
the petition I will inclose to you. The prayer has al- 
ready puzzled the Minister, and I believe when it comes 
to the House of Lords it will puzzle them too. Whether 
it stands referred to them, I cannot tell ; nor shall I give 
myself the trouble of inquiring : yet I would choose to 
be well prepared with every thing that is necessary, in 
case it should be referred, and my Lords should take 
it up. 

" I should be glad, for my own satisfaction, to be 
possessed of the opinions of the best Counsel in Scot- 
land, with respect to the effect of the law before the 
Union, in cases similar to my claim. It might also be of 

• The Duke of Newcastle, then prime minister. 



36 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

use to show to my friends out of the House ; but I do 
not believe it would be allowed to be read at the bar. I 
also think it absolutely necessary to have authenticated 
evidence from the records of all peerages held in Scot- 
land by collateral heirs-male — of the words of their pat- 
ents, and of all decisions in similar cases. These I think 
so absolutely necessary to have authenticated, that I 
must beg you will do whatever is necessary to obtain 
them as soon as possible. As to the evidence of the 
propinquity, Wedderburn is clearly of opinion that the 
Lords must take it from the return of the jury of ser- 
vice, and that their verdict will be sufficient until it is 
falsified : so that I believe we shall not want any of the 
evidence authenticated that was laid before the jury ; 
but when I have had this meeting with Wedderburn and 
Johnston, I will inform you what they think further ne- 
cessary. 

" I can never think of the part you have taken in my 
affairs but with the utmost gratitude. I am sure that 
your anxiety for my success was more than equal to my 
own. I am no less sensible of the frugality, economy, 
and industry with which you have prosecuted them ; and 
must confess that the expense under your management 
has been much less than I expected. 1 have filled up 
the blank in your account with the sum of two hundred 
pounds sterling, as the balance of it. 

" 1 am, &c." 

The Same to William Trumbull, Esq. 

•' New Portugal Street, November 9th, 1759. 

•' Dear Sir, — As you was pleased to desire that I 
would give you in writing the proposal I made you a 
few days ago relating to the rights of the heirs of the 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 37 

first Earl of Stirling may have in North America, that 
you might communicate it to Mr. Lee ; I shall now state 
the matter to you for that purpose. 

" The rights of which the first Earl died possessed 
in America, I conceive, were three separate tracts of 
land, — the first. Nova Scotia, an immense country, to 
which, within these hundred years, several persons have 
laid claim as having right under one Claude Delatour, a 
Frenchman, to whom, it is said, the Earl conveyed his 
right in 1629 ; — but I have sufficient evidence that the 
country was regained from the French in 1631, — since 
which time, 1 believe, nothing has been done by his de- 
scendants to invalidate his title — Henry,* the ancestor 
of your branch of the family, being averse to have any 
thing to do with his father's affairs, which were much 
involved by the expenses he had run into for settling this 
new colony. 

" The second tract was Long Island, a country now 
inhabited by several thousands of families. Here the 
Earl had his Deputy-Governor many years ; and when 
he died it was a thriving colony. After his death his 
Governor held possession many years for the family ; 
but Henry, for the reason before mentioned, neglected it, 
and about the year 1662, conveyed his title to the Duke 
of York, in consideration of his paying the Earl three 
hundred pounds per annum. The consideration, 1 am 
told, was never any part of it paid. Whether Henry 
had any right to make such conveyance, seems doubtful, 
as he was never served heir to his father, which is a form 



* The third Earl, and second surviv- William Lord Canada, the eldest son of 

ing son of the first — who on the death of the first Earl, having died in the lifetime 

his nephew, the second Earl svithout issue, of his father, 
succeeded to his titles and estates, — 



38 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

in Scotland absolutely necessary to vest him with the 
rights of his father. However, the Crown has, ever 
since James the Second's time, been possessed of this 
Island, and enjoyed the quit-rents.* 

" The other tract of which the Earl was possessed, 
is the country of St. Croix, or Sagadahock, adjoining to 
Nova Scotia on the west. After Earl Henry made the 
agreement with the Duke of York for Long Island, the 
Duke obtained a grant from the Crown of the Province 
of New- York ; and it was to include Long Island as a 
confirmation of his right to it. It seems the Earl lent 
the Duke his original grant of Long Island to enable him 
to make use of the same words [of description] ; and 
that in the same instrument that contained the Earl's 
right to Long Island, was also contained his right to the 
country of St. Croix ; and the Duke, in his new grant 
from the Crown, inserted not only the description of 
Long Island, but of the country of St. Croix also. Thus, 
whether designedly or not, the Duke obtained a pre- 
tence of a right to this third tract, which has since re- 
mained in the hands of the Crown, but is not possessed 
by any of its subjects — a circumstance much in our fa- 
vour, as the restoring of it will be attended with less 
inconvenience than if it had been settled. 

" This, from the best intelligence I have, is the situa- 
tion of the claim that the heirs of the first Earl of Stir- 



* In 1635, Charles I. requested the the same instrument he authorized Far- 
Plymouth Company — within whose ret to take up and dispose of, for his own 
Charter Long Island was supposed to use, 12000 acres of land ; in pursuance 
have been included — to issue their pa- whereof Farret made choice of Shelter 
tent to the Earl of Stirling for Long Island and Robin's Island in Peconic 
Island and the adjacent islands, which Bay — which he afterwards sold to Ste- 
was done accordingly ; and in 1637 the phen Goodyear of New Haven : Vide 
Earl appointed James Farret his agent Thompson's Hist, of Long Island, 
to manage and dispose of the same. By 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 39 

ling have in America. Whether the right to these claims 
descends to the heirs at law — which would be yourself 
and Mr. Lee — or whether it descends to his heirs- 
male — which I am found to be — I cannot tell ; but from 
some circumstances before mentioned, I should think it 
doubtful whether Henry had any legal right to make the 
agreement with the Duke of York, or whether he could 
have any legal right to any part of his father's posses- 
sions, as he would not suffer his service of heir-male, 
nor be subject to any of his debts — which occasioned 
his estates in Scotland to be divided among his credi- 
tors ; and the only thing that secured his American 
estate from the like sequestration was its remoteness, 
and the little value of land in that country at that time. 
However, I think it best for us all to act jointly in any 
application that is to be made for the recovery of those 
rights ; and I am willing to come into an agreement 
with you and Mr. Lee about the matter. I will agree 
that whatever may be recovered shall be divided — one 
half between you and Mr. Lee, and the other half to 
myself; and as I shall have some leisure this winter, I 
will take all the trouble and expense of searching the 
matter to the bottom, and of prosecuting it so far as we 
shall jointly think it prudent. I should be glad if you 
would communicate this proposal to Mr. Lee, and to 
have yours and his answer as soon as convenient ; for 
American matters, which were formerly little regarded 
by the Ministry, are now become an object of attention ; 
and they will now be glad to have the titles of their 
American Colonies well settled : besides, I shall set out 
for America next spring, and, perhaps, we shall never 
again have an opportunity of acting jointly in the 
matter." 



40 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

" When you write to Mr. Lee, be pleased to make 
my most respectful compliments to him. Had I been in 
Yorkshire this summer, I should certainly have had the 
honour of waiting on him, and am not without hopes of 
having that pleasure still, before I leave England. 

" I am, &c." 

Mr. Andrew Stuart to the Earl of Stirling. 

" Edinburgh, November 22nd, 1759. 

" My Lord, — In a letter lately to Harry Drummond, 
I desired him to make my apology to your Lordship 
for the delay of my writing. By my being so much at 
Hamilton, and other parts of the country this vacation, 
I have not yet got the searches completed, which in 
your last were directed. I want to have them completed 
before taking the opinion of Counsel. When the records 
have supplied me with the materials, (which I expect 
now in a few days,) I shall state in the case all the pre- 
cedents that have any relation to the present question ; 
and if subjoined to this, be the favourable opinion of our 
most eminent Counsel, I cannot but think it ought to 
have some effect above. I know such opinions will not 
be allowed to be read at the bar, but the same persons 
whose judgment determines the matter within doors, 
may possibly form their opinions from what they learn 
out of the House. Mr. Johnston and I have appointed 
to meet the beginning of next week for settling the case, 
which will be forwarded to you as soon as completed. 

" I am much indebted to your Lordship for the oblig- 
ing, and I may say, too favourable light in which you 
have been pleased to view my endeavours in your affairs, 
and for the manner in which )ou have footed up my ac- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



41 



compt. Every opportunity I have of showing the sense 
of your Lordship's favour and friendship, will give me 
real pleasure. None of my concerns I find can escape 
your notice ; the congratulations upon the return of the 
Hamilton business, are a proof of this. Such short-lived 
revolutions are very agreeable where one has the experi- 
ence of so good friends taking part in their concerns. 
The behaviour, indeed, of Duke Hamilton's guardians all 
along in my affairs, was such as 1 had the greatest reason 
to be pleased with. 

" May I beg leave to give your Lordship the trouble 
of presenting my compliments and best respects to Mr. 
Townshend, and tell him how sensible I am of the 
honour of his remembrance. 

" I am, &c." 

From the following extract of a letter from Mr. Lee 
to Mr. Trumbull, with the letter inclosing it to Lord 
Stirling, it appears that the proposal made by the latter 
respecting the Sagadahock* lands, had been' accepted by 
those gentlemen ; and the subsequent correspondence 
between the parties explains more fully the nature of the 
agreement finally concluded between them. 

William Philipps Lee, Esq. to William Trumbull, Esq. 

=' York, November 28th, 1759. 

" I have returned you Lord Stirling's letter, to whom, 
when you write, I desire you will present my respects. 
As to his Lordship's proposal, if you agree to it, I shall 
readily come into it, and am willing to sign any agree- 
ment necessary to the carrying it into execution." 

* A territory comprising all the present State of Maine, lying eastwnrd of 
the Kennebec River. 



4-2 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

William Trumbull, Esq. to the Earl of Stirling. 

" Easthampstead Park, December 13th, 1759. 

" My Lord, — Above is a copy of my cousin Lee's 
letter in relation to your Lordship's proposal in your let- 
ter of the 9th of November last ; and as he is very will- 
ing, so am I, to come into the agreement you proposed. 
I have therefore now sent up all the writings and papers, 
relating to our North American affairs, as well as a book 
of Sir William Alexander's correspondence while he was 
Secretary of State for Scotland. 

" I think a proper agreement should be drawn up 
for us all to sign, which I desire the favour of your Lord- 
ship to do. 

" I am, &c." 

William Philipps Lee, Esq. to the Same. 

York, January 12th, 1760. 

" My Lord, — Upon receiving the honour of your 
Lordship's letter, I writ to Mr. Trumbull mentioning 
some trifling alterations in the copy of the agreement 
you was so obliging as to send me. My cousin has 
since been in London, but was not so happy as to meet 
with your Lordship. He will soon, 1 hope, be more suc- 
cessful, when I doubt not a very few words will entirely 

settle the affair. 

" I am, &c." 

The Earl of Stirling to William Philipps Lee, Esq. 

" London, February 27th, 1760. 

" Sir, — I had the pleasure of receiving your letter of 
the 12th of January, which I should have acknowledged 
before, but was in daily expectation of seeing Mr. Trum 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 43 

bull, who has been kept out of town by a cold, until a 
few days ago. Since he came to town we have cor- 
rected the draft of the agreement, and added a clause ex- 
plaining that I am to be at all costs until something is 
recovered. I hope the agreement as it now stands, and 
the power of attorney, will be quite agreeable to you. 
1 have executed the agreement on my part, and have 
delivered it to Mr. Trumbull, who will transmit it to you, 
with the power of attorney, for your signing. I should 
have been extremely glad to have waited upon you on 
this occasion, but that pleasure I must debar myself the 
hope of, until towards summer, when I shall certainly 
call on you on my w^y north. 

" The claims we have on government, and in Amer- 
ica, are very important, and I think there is evidence 
sufficient to make them quite clear. I have them in 
such forwardness as to lay before the King and Council 
soon ; but whatever steps are taken I will inform you of. 

*' I am, &c.' 



William Fhilipps Lee, Esq. to the Earl of Stirling, 

" York, February 18th, 1760. 

" My Lord, — Before I received the honour of your 
Lordship's letter, Mr. Trumbull sent me the Articles 
and letter of Attorney, which, by the return of the post, 
I sent back to him signed, and hope by this time they 
have come safe to your Lordship's hands. 

" If your Lordship should be at any time, a quarter 
of an hour at leisure, it would give me great pleasure to 
know what your brother peers are quarrelling about be- 
fore a court-martial. We have a report here that Lord 
George Sackville, to all appearance, is not to take his 



44 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING, 

trial.* I am very sorry to hear it ; for I think the honour 

of the British nation requires a strict scrutiny into that 

affair. 

" I am, &c." 

The Earl of Stirling to William Philipps Lee, Esq. 

" London, February 23rd, 1760. 

" Dear Sir, — I had the pleasure of receiving your 
letter of the 18th on Thursday last, and yesterday I re- 
ceived from Mr. Trumbull the Articles of agreement and 
letter of Attorney. The steps that I am advised are 
necessary in that affair I shall pursue immediately. 

" Lord George Sackville, to all appearance, has acted 
the part of a man desirous of his trial. After many 
doubts whether he was liable or not — the Attorney and 
Solicitor General having given it as their opinion that 
he was — his charge was made out, to wit, " disobedi- 
ence of orders," and a court-martial was ordered, but 
no time appointed for their sitting. Thus it stood a day 
or two ago ; but this morning I am told that next Mon- 
day se'nnight is appointed for their meeting. I wish he 
may have justice done him. If he is guilty let him suf- 
fer. If he is innocent, not only he, but the whole Brit- 
ish nation have been very ill used. The circumstances 
reported on both sides are very strong, but I must defer 
forming any opinion until I see the evidence given at 
the court-martial, and I shall then do myself the plea- 
sure of writing to you again on the subject. 

" 1 am, &c." 

• He was a Lieutenant General in the count Sackville, and appointed Secre- 

army, and charged with misconduct at tary of State for the Colonial Depart- 

the battle of Minden — found guilty, and ment — and President of the Board of 

cashiered. He afterwards assumed the Trade. He died in 1785. 
■ surname of Germaine — was created Vis- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 45 

fillliam Philipps Lee, Esq. to the Earl of Sliding. 

"York, March 12th, 1760. 

" My Lord, — I am glad to hear by the letter of the 
23rd of February, your Lordship honoured me with, that 
the papers I sent to Mr. Trumbull are come saf<* to your 
hands. I hope soon to hear that your Lordship has 
entered upon this arduous affair, which proved too much 
for my uncle Lee, who often solicited in favour of the 
younger children of my grandfather Stirling, but with- 
out success. 

" Lord Charles Hay's* affair is now finished, but the 
result of it is yet a secret ; and as to Lord George 
Sackville's, I cannot guess when it will be finished if 
they do not make more haste than they hitherto have 
done. The gallant Captain Elliot'sf victory is a circum- 
stance of the greatest consequence to the northern sea- 
coast of England, and will probably sink the insurance, 
which has been very high of late. 

" I am, &c." 

* He was tried in January of thi.syear, of 36 guns each, in quest of the enemy. 

upon charges involving " every military On the 28th of Fehruary,he got sight of 

crime of which an officer could be guilty, them, and gave chase. About 9o'clock, 

except cowardice and disaffection." Capt. K. came along side of the French 

But no further proceedings were had in Commodore ; in a few minutes the 

consequence of his death on the first of action became general ; and having con- 

the following May. Vide Gent. Mag. tinued about an hour and a half, all the 

for February and May, 1760. French ships struck their colours. They 

t Commander of the iEolus of 32 lost iheir gallant Commodore, Thurot, 

guns, stationed at Kinsale in Ireland, and about 300 men. The British loss 

Having received advice from the Lord amounted to but five men killed and 

Lieutenant, that three French ships had thirty-one wounded. Vide Gent. Mag. 

appeared off Carrickfergus, he s.iiled, for March, 1760. 
accompanied by the Pallas and Brilliant 



46 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

The Earl of Stirling to Mr. Andrew Stuart. 

'= Portugal Street, June 22d, 1760. 

" Dear Sir, — I have received jour two letters of the 
7th and 9th instant, with the copies of the several pat- 
ents and extracts therein mentioned, which gave me great 
satisfaction, as some of them apply exactly to the very 
letter of my case, and the others are in the same spirit. 
There can be no doubt, I believe, with gentlemen ac- 
quainted with the laws and customs of Scotland, that 
titles descended to collaterals, as well as estates, by the 
general words of " heirs-male ;" but as we are to show 
that in a country where the practice is quite different, 
we must be as strong as possible in our evidence of the 
practice ; wherefore I must beg you will continue your 
searches for as many more cases as possible, that will 
apply to mine. 

" I have desired Mr. Dagge to make inquiry into the 
proceedings at the time of sustaining Lord Colville's 
claim ; which, when he has got, I will send you. It is 
pretty certain, I believe, that there was no reference of 
it to the Attorney and Solicitor General ; for it seems to 
be agreed that they have no business with Scotch peer- 
ages. The best sort of proof of the usage in Scotland, 
seems to be such as you have been collecting, properly 
attested ; and of the propinquity, I am told that the 
Lords will expect to see attested copies of the evidence 
that was given on the trial of the service ; and if any 
further evidence be collected, it may be taken before 
some Chief Magistrate. They will not expect any wit- 
nesses to be brought up to be examined viva voce ; but 
I believe the service will have sufficient weight with 
them. It was very lucky indeed that we got the evi- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 47 

dence of Mr. McL(^isli and John McGrovvtIior* taken in 
time. I much approve of the alteration jou have made 
in the sketch of the history of my family which I sent 
you ;t when it is completed I shall be glad to have a 
copy of it. 

" People in general, here, are much alarmed at the 
news we have from Quebec. Indeed they all give up 
the place as lost. For my part, I am not in such a fright 
about it. General Murray has still a good garrison with 
him — the works are quite sufficient to withstand an 
assault, and if the enemy are reduced to make a siege of 
it, I am in hopes they will be called off' by the danger 
of Montreal, before they can effect their design. Mr. 
AniherstJ set out from New- York, about the same time 
that the enemy must have arrived at Quebec. Prepara- 
tions for his march were already made on our frontier, 
and if he pushes on briskly, he will surprise Montreal 
without defence. Upon the whole, I think this march 
of the French upon Quebec may turn out a lucky inci- 
dent for us in the easier reduction of Canada ; as the 
French, by being so early out as all the month of April, 
must be ruined : for in that country, there is not a worse 
month in the year to be in the field, and at Quebec, 
even May is terrible. The frost is hardly out of the 

* These were very aged witnesses, t It had been supposed by Lord Stir- 

wlio both died shortly after their exam- ling, in common with others, tliat he 

ilnation before the jury of service. Their was descended from John, the fourth 

memories enabled them to trace by tra- son of the first Earl ; but it was render- 

dition and their own knowledge, the ed clear by the evidence of McLeish and 

descent of James Alexander, the father McGrowther, that he was descended 

of the claimant, from John the uncle of from John the Uncle, 

the first Earl of Stirling. They had t General, afterwards Sir JeflTrey 

been personally acquainted with James Amherst — subsequently raised to the 

Alexander bt-fore he left Scotland ; and peerage by the title of Lord Amherst, 
they testified that he had always been 
reputed to be the presumptive heir to 
the Earldom. 



48 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

ground — wet-thawing rains coming on, with violent gusts 
of snow and hail, are great inconveniences to tro()j)s badly 
provided with equipage; — and to these the French must 
be exposed, while the garrison of Quebec is covered by 
comfortable houses, with plenty of j)rovisions, and while 
Mr. Amherst is marching through a more southern cli- 
mate, where the warm season is more advanced.* 

" 1 am, &c." 

William Philipps Lee, Esq. to the Earl of Stirling. 

" York, July 16th, 1760. 

"My Lord, — I have received the honour of your 
Lordship's letters, with the copies of the Petitions. The 
gout, which has not yet quite left my hands, prevented my 
acknowledging these favours sooner. I am very sorry to 
hear of the melancholy occasion which calls your Lordship 
to America, but hope you will be able to leave things here 
in a promising way. Pray has your Lordship received 
any answer yet from the Board of Trade ? 

" 1 am, &c." 

The " melancholy event" above alluded to, was the 
death of Mrs. James Alexander. From what has already 
been said of this remarkable woman, it will readily be 
credited that she was long remembered for her liberality 
and intelligence — for her mental vigour, as well as her 
skill and activity in business. f Notwithstanding the loss 

* These predictions were verified al- the 8th of September. Vide Annual 

most to the very letter. Mons. De Register for 1761. 

Levi, who, after the fall of Montcalm, f As a proof of the respectability of 

succeeded to the conmiand of the this notable woman — it is mentioned by 

French army in Canada, was compelled Miss Sedgwick, in one of her novels, that 

by General Murray to raise the siege of Mrs. Alexander was at one period the 

Quebec on the 11th of May ; and Men- only person in New- York, except the 

treat capitulated to General Amherst on Governor, who kept a coach. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 49 

of his mother, Lord Stirling was induced to prolong his 
stay in England for another twelvemonth — probably 
from unwillingness to leave the subject of his petition 
before the House of Lords undecided. His patience, 
however, seems at length to have been exhausted; and 
urged moreover by the necessity of attending in person 
to his affairs in America, especially after the death of 
his mother, he quitted England, after all, before the re- 
cognition of his peerage was obtained. He left London 
on the 24th of July, 1761, and the next day reached 
Portsmouth — where he was to embark on board the 
Alcide, man-of-war. Captain Hankerson, which he found 
waiting to sail with the first fair wind. At noon on the 
28th, the signal was made for him to repair on board — 
and in the evening the ship was under weigh. She had 
under her convoy a fleet of transports and merchantmen, — 
which so much retarded her progress across the Atlantic 
that it was not until the 21st of October that she cast 
anchor in the bay of New- York.* 

* In the MS. journal kept on this convoy of the ^Zcic^e; and suggests that 

passage by Lord Stirling, he complains while thus in charge of a man-of-war, 

of the delays occasioned by the dull sail- merchant vessels should be subject to 

ing, dilatoriness in obeying, or total dis- martial law. 
regard of signals, of the vessels under 



CHAPTER III. 



1761-1764. 



On his return to America, Lord Stirling took pos- 
session of the house in New-York, in which his parents 
had resided, and not long afterwards commenced building 
another at Baskenridge, in New Jersey, and improving 
a large tract of land there which he had inherited from 
his father. On the completion of this house, he made 
the place his summer retreat, and eventually his perma- 
nent residence. Soon after his removal to New Jersey, 
he was chosen a member of the Provincial Council, and 
continued to hold the office until the Revolution. So long 
as the political ties which connected the Colonies with 
the mother-country remained unsevered, his intercourse 
with his friends in Great Britain was kept up by a fre- 
quent interchange of letters. Besides his Counsel and 
Solicitors, his principal correspondents during that period, 
were the Messrs. Penn, his frie;.'^. and banker Mr. 
Henry Drummond,* the Reverend Mr. Porteous, and 

* As an instance of the general igno- them on a certain day ; and upon pre- 

rance in regard to America and Anieri- senting his lordship to the lady of the 

cans, prevailing at that period in Eng- house on the day of the dinner, he found 

land, Lord Stirling used to relate a ci'- his mystiJicatio7i had succeeded — for she 

cumstance attending his introduction to exclaimed in broad Scotch — " ynie God I 

the lady of Mr. Drummond. Her hus- the aionimal is wheete." She expected 

band had informed her that he had in- to see one of the copper coloured na- 

vited a native American to dine with tives. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 5[ 

some others of his Scotch relations. He also wrote oc- 
casionally on public affairs to the acquaintances he had 
formed among men in political life in England.* In the 
winter succeeding his arrival at New-York, he addressed 
a letter — of which there remains among his papers but 
the following imperfect draft — to the former preceptor 
and then confidential friend and favourite minister of 
George III., whose influence over the mind of that 
monarch ended only with his life. 

The Earl of Stirling to the Earl of Bute. 

" My Lord, — When I had last the pleasure of see- 
ing your Lordship — which was the day before I left 
London — I fully intended to have been in England again 
this winter ; but being detained by contrary winds some 
time in the Channel, and that succeeded by a passage of 
above three months,t made my arrival here so late in the 
year, that I had scarce time to do any thing in the affairs 
that occasioned my coming over to this country, before I 
was stopped in my proceedings, by the winter setting in 
very severely — and it has continued so ever since. 

" I have a number of tenants in different parts of 
this Province, and in New Jersey, who have been with- 
out leases these five years. The value of their farms 
has, in the mean time, greatly increased, and it will 
scarce be possible to settle the rents without visiting the 
farms myself, which cannot be done until the beginning 
of summer. Besides this, I have a good deal of intri- 

* Vide Preface. the West Indies also in charge — which 
t Fide Note p. 49. To what is there rendered it necessary to make the south- 
mentioned, may be added the circum- ern passage across the Atlantic, and 
stance that the Alcide had — besides the consequently to prolong the voyage. 
North American trade — a convoy for 



52 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



cate work to go through : the division and settlement of 
two large landed estates — one of which, in my absence 
from hence, has come to me from my father, and the 
other by my wife — and unless I attend to this business 
myself, it must be done at very great disadvantage to 
me. These things, my Lord, render it almost impossi- 
ble to be in England before next winter. But if, in the 
mean time, the House of Lords incline to go into an ex- 
amination of the foundation of my title, I have ordered 
Mr. Dagse, my Solicitor, to lay a full state of my case 
before their Lordships, with the evidence in support 
thereof — all of which he is already possessed of ; and in 
this case, my Lord, I must beg the favour of a little of 
your attention, that I may have your protection and as- 
sistance so far as to obtain that justice which every one 
in like circumstances in Scotland enjoyed. I only ask 
what the express words of the patent give to me ; — what 
has constantly been the practice of succession in Scot- 
land for a century or two before the Union ; — what has 
not been altered by that treaty, but is confirmed by it ; 
and this, my Lord, under your protection, I can make 
no doubt of obtaining, and therefore should be glad to 
have the proceedings in my case in Scotland brought be- 
fore their Lordships as soon as possible, that they may 
be satisfied that I hold my title agreeably to the practice 
in that country, in the most authentic manner. 

" I must beg leave to congratulate your Lordship on 
the happy event of his Majesty's marriage to a Princess 
so truly worthy of that high station as the world confesses 
her to be. 1 must also congratulate your Lordship on 
the success his Majesty's arms have already met with in 
the attack of the Island of Martinico. The troops as- 
tembled at the rendezvous without any accident — left 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 53 

Barbadoes the second of January, and made good their 
landing near Cape Solomon, in Martinico, the sixth, with 
very little loss, the o}3position being trifling. The Cap- 
tain of a vessel that passed by the Island on the 15th, 
says that he spoke with some of our men-of-war's boats, 
who informed him that there had been very brisk firing 
for three days near the town of Port Royal. The Rai- 
sojiable, man-of-war, in attempting to take her station, 
in order to silence a battery, struck on a rocky shoal ; the 
ship is lost, but the men and stores are saved. I hope, 
my Lord, in a few days to hear of the entire reduction 
of the Island. 

" After the reduction of Martinico, our force there 
would, in case of a Spanish war, be sufficient to take 
the town and port of the Havannah.* The possession 
of that port would enable us at once to cut off the Span- 
ish trade to all Mexico, and the main as far as Cartha- 
gena ; for every ship from those vast and rich countries 
must, in their passage to Europe, pass within sight of the 
Havannah. It would also deprive Spain of one of her best 
dock-yards ; the troops would be at hand to make an at- 
tempt on Louisiana, and, if there be any suspicion that 
the troops now in the West Indies would not be suffi- 
cient for the work, they may be reinforced with eight or 
nine good battalions from hence, provided these Colo- 
nies be ordered to relieve them from garrison duty by 
Provincials.f 

" Since my return to America, I have met with many 
new materials that will enable me to execute my map 
much farther into the interior parts of the country, 

* The conquest of the Havcnnnh was raised chiefly in New England, was, in 

actually made in the course of that year, fact, employed in these expeditions. 

Vide Ann. Reg. 1761. Vide Marshall's Life of Washington, 

t Avery considerable body of troops. Vol. L Introd. 



54 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

where 1 find the French travellers have not been so accu- 
rate in their surveys as we might have expected. I pur- 
pose next summer to make a journey round all the great 
lakes ; after which I intend to finish my map so far, and 
to do myself the honour of sending your Lordship a copy, 
with the measure of a degree on Hudson's River, which 
I am now preparing to execute." * ***** 

Henry Drummond, Esq. to the Earl of Stirling. 

" London, April 10th, 1762. 

*' My Dear Lord, — 1 received the pleasure of yours 
of the 11th of February, about three weeks ago, which, 
I assure you, gave me real pleasure, as 1 was extremely 
uneasy at your long silence. The packet you mention 
to have sent by Dr. Smith, has come safe to hand. 

" I am much obliged to you and my friend Amherst for 
the care you took of the two volunteers, who, I hear, are 
both provided for at Martinico. I sincerely wish you 
joy of our success there ; which, you may easily ima- 
gine, gave me no small pleasure, considering the great 
share Rodney had in it, who has been so kind as to write 
to me on every occasion the particulars, all of which you 
will have heard long before this gets your length. The 
consequence of this, in my opinion, must bring about a 
peace, — not so much from the event of such a conquest, 
which is no doubt one of the most material during the 
war, but that it will be a sufficient reason for us to begin 
treating again with France ; and when we do, remem- 
ber my words, a peace must speedily follow. I am so 
much corwinced of this, that the moment I hear of a ne- 
gociation, you may depend upon my putting every far- 
thing I am worth in the world into the stocks. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 55 

" I refer you to a letter I have desired Mr. Dagge 
to write, for all particulars relating to the steps that have 
been taken about your peerage ; and I hope Lord Borth- 
wick's having carried his, after all the ill-natured things 
that could be said against him, is a good omen in favour 
of yours. I shall take care that Dagge wants not for 
money to carry it on ; and if it should still come on this 
session, you may depend upon my leaving no stone un- 
turned to do what little service may be in my power. 
If it should not come on this year, I do sincerely hope you 
will be on the spot yourself next winter, as I do sol- 
emnly think that your presence will be the means of 
carrying it. 

" Some time ago I had the inclosed sent to me from 
the Board of Trade ; the fees of which I ventured to 
pay, though I had no direction for it ; which I believe 
is called a Mandamus* and I take it for granted is a great 
honour to you ; and I suppose would not have been 
made out without your desire. I hope it will arrive 
safe ; I have taken all the care I could in sending it un- 
der a war-office cover, and putting it safe in that office- 
bag. 

" Your friend Mr. Charles Townshend goes on ex- 
tremely well, and gives great satisfaction in his office.f I 
have wished several times we had not troubled you and 
Amherst with the volunteers, as commissions in the new 
corps that have been raised since you went, have almost 
gone a begging. There has been an amazing promotion 
in the army since you left us, — all down to Lieutenant 
Colonel Brudenell have got the rank of Colonel ; and all 

* This writ related to the Sagadahock t Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
claim, and was directed to the Gover- 
nor of Massachusetts-Bay. 



56 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

the Majors, including our friend George Scott, have got 
the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and to-daj I hear of 
two or three others ; one of which is Jamie Stuart, An- 
drew's brother. 

" I had liked to have forgot to tell you that Morris 
sets out in a few days for India, to join his regiment. I 
suppose he will write you himself. The Duchess be- 
haves extremely well on the occasion. 

" 1 am, &c." 

The following is referred to and was inclosed in the 
above. 

Mr. Henry Dagge to Henry Drummond^ Esq. . 

Bloomsbury Square, 10th April, 1762. 

" Dear Sir, — As it will be proper to inform our 
friend in New York, of what has passed in relation to 
his, and the other claims to Peerages, you will be pleased 
to transmit this letter to him. 

" Upon the hearing of the first peerage — which was 
that of the Earl of Cassilis — it was determined by their 
Lordships, that no retour posterior to 1710, should be 
admitted as evidence of pedigree — where that retour 
was taken with a view of taking up the title. 

"Upon the hearing of the next claim, viz., of the 
title of Borthwick, which was thought to be a very ex- 
ceptionable claim, there were produced several deeds 
and papers of an ancient date, in order to make out the 
claimant's pedigree, which was not made out to the sat- 
isfaction of their Lordships, among whom there was a 
difference of opinion as to the nature of the evidence re- 
quired in order to make out such ancient pedigrees, 
upon two former hearings, but was fully made out at 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 57 

the final hearing on Wednesday last, when parol evi- 
dence ivas admitted to be given by a ivitness examined at 
the bar of the House, of the general reputation of the 
country where the family resided, as to the extinction of 
some branches of the family, who, if they had existed, 
would have taken as heirs of the last Lord preferable to 
the claimant. 

" The admission of this kind of evidence will be of 
use to us when we bring on our claim, which our 
Counsel do not consider it safe to do with the evidence 
as at present possessed of. We are pretty well assured 
Mr. Sluart will be able to get some deeds and papers 
from the Duke of Arygle, and Mr. Abercrombie of Tul- 
liebody, their charter-chests, which, together with the 
parol evidence which we shall be able to offer, will be 
sufficient to satisfy their Lordships of our friend's pedi- 
gree. In the mean time there is an order that neither 
he, nor any other of the claimants, shall use their titles 
until they have legally proved their right : so that we 
think it desirable that he should not make use of the title, 
in subscriptions or any other public acts, until after the 
hearing, because his doing so might in strictness be con- 
sidered a contempt of the House of Lords. 

" Mr. Wedderburn and I join in our best respects 
and wishes to our friend, who may be assured of our 
most earnest endeavours to serve him in this matter. 

" I have cautiously avoided naming the person or 
title, for a reason which will be obvious from the caution 
we give our friend to delay using it until there is a hear- 
ing and determination on his claim, which I hope will 
be at the very beginning of the next session of Parlia- 
ment ; before which time we hope for the pleasure of 
seeing him in England. 

*' I am, &c." 



58 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

That Lord Stirling did not comply with the order 
of the House of Lords may be readily imagined. Besides 
its retroactive effect, he considered it repugnant to the 
Treaty of Union between England and Scotland, by 
which he was advised, the question of his right could 
only be entertained by that branch of the British Legis- 
lature, in case his vote at an election of representative 
peers for Scotland should be contested before it. There 
was moreover no other claimant of the title ; and he had 
been acknowledged and treated both in public and pri- 
vate for more than two years while he remained in Eng- 
land, and after his return to America, as the lawful 
possessor of the Earldom. He had used the title in his 
intercourse and correspondence with the ministers of the 
Crown and other officers of State, and in return had been 
addressed by it both in person and by letter, and so con- 
tinued to be, both officially and familiarly, by public 
functionaries as well as private individuals ; in Great 
Britain, as well as in the Colonies; before and during 
the Revolution, and to the day of his death, without 
denial, question, or doubt, until after he had taken up 
arms in support of the liberties and independence of his 
native country ; and although several attempts have 
since been made to disprove his right, for the purpose of 
establishing others pretending to be better — yet to this 
day no subsequent claimant has succeeded.* 

* It is stated by Mr. Turnbull, a ters that this is an error, into which 

Scottish Advocate, and the editor of the the learned editor was probably led, 

" Trial of Alexander Humphreys" — (one by the entry on that day of the 

of the late claimants of the Earldom) — order forbidding the use of the title 

in his preface to that publication, that until the claim was allowed. Hum- 

the petition of the American claimant phreys claimed as heir-at-law of John 

was rejected by the House of Peers on Alexander, fourth son of the first 

the lOth of March, nG2. Butitisevi- Earl — whom he alleges to have left a 

dent from the dates of the last two let- son, whose daughter married one Wil- 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 



59 



It has indeed, been suggested,* that the disobedience 
of Lord Stirling to the order of the House of Lords, pro- 



liam Humphreys, father of the claimant. 
Now witliout dwelling upon the fact 
proved before the jury of service in Lord 
Stirling's case, that this John left only a 
daughter, it will be sufficient to enable 
the reader to judge of the merits of this 
claim of Humphreys', merely to remind 
him that the patent in 1633, to the first 
Earl, is limited to heirs male. To get 
over this, Humphreys pretends that, in 
1639, a charter of Novu-damus was 
granted to the Earl of Stirling extend- 
ing the entail of the whole of his es- 
tates in Scotland and America, as well 
as of the honours in the original patent, 
to his heirs female. Upon the produc- 
tion of this document with others, Hum- 
phreys was indicted for forgery ; and on 
his trial, the jury, according to a practice 
allowed in Scotland, found a verdict 
that the instrument in question, and 
some of the others, were forgeries — but 
that it was not proven that the prisoner 
forged them, or was guilty, art or part 
thereof, or as an accessory thereto ; and 
also that it was not proven thai he utter- 
ed them as genuine, knowing them to 
be forged. Besides this indictment, a 
civil suit was instituted in the Court of 
Session in 1833, by the officers of Slate 
in Scotland, against Mr. Humphreys- 
Alexander, (for he had obtained a license 
from the Crown, to add the latter to his 
original surname,) for the purpose of 
setting aside certain proceedings under 
which he had assumed the title, and 
claimed the privileges of the Earl of Stir- 
ling. In this suit the various pretences 
set up by the defendant in support of his 
claims were met and opposed upon the 
following grounds amongst others, viz., 
" that the documents adduced were false. 



forged, fabricated and devised, vitinted 
and erased in sulistantialibus,ani\ defec- 
tive in the solemnities required by law" 
— that they were " irregular, and illegal, 
and funditus void and null ;" — and that 
the defendant was not lawful and near- 
est heir in general or in special to the 
first Earl of Stirling. The judgment of 
the Court on all these points was against 
the defendant, who appealed to the 
House of Lords, where the case is now 
pending. 

The forged papers were alleged to 
have been " recovered" in 1837, through 
the means of the notorious Marie Anne 
Le Normand, the most adroit and suc- 
cessful of French fortune-tellers, who 
died in 1843, leaving a large fortune, the 
result of tact and industry in her trade. 
The following account of the acquain- 
tance of Mr. Hurnphreys-.\lexander 
and his family with this ingenious per- 
sonage is given in his own words ; not 
so much from its connexion with the de- 
tails of the text, as to compensate for 
their dullness : " It appears," says Mr. 
Humphreys- Alexander, "that Lady Stir- 
ling had become acquainted with Mdlle. 
Le Normand in 1812, and had received 
from her the strong'st marks of atten- 
tion and regard, during her residence in 
France in the years 1812, 1813, and 
1815; and that afterwards she kept up a 
correspondence with that lady from time 
to time. The appellant (Humphreys) had 
been frequently advised to direct searches 
to be made in France for any documents 
that might throw light on the hi.«!tory of 
the family of Stirling; and accordingly 
investigations had been repeatedly made 
in different quarters, under his directions. 
Among others who had been applied to 



* By Mr. Sedgwick, in his Life of Governor Livingston, p. 215. 



60 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 



hibiting him from assuming the title until the hearing of 
his petition, may have influenced the final decision. But 



with a view to interest themselves on 
his behalf. Lady Stirling had made ap- 
plication to Mdlle. Le Normand, who 
had an extensive literary acquaintance, 
and who promised to get searches made 
in the public offices of France for any 
papers bearing on this subject. Accord- 
ingly she bestowed much pains in mak- 
ing the necessary investigations, and re- 
peatedly made it known to a large cir- 
cle of acquaintances, that she had under- 
taken to make these inquiries. Mdlle. 
Le Normand one day, about the middle 
of July, 1837, communicated to him that 
she had received a document which 
might be of importance to him ; and 
after conversing some time about his 
family, she drew from under a heap of 
papers, a packet ; and taking off the 
cover she showed him the map of Cana- 
da now in process. Various inquiries 
were afterwards made by her, for the 
purpose of tracing the individuals in 
whose custody this document had previ- 
ously been preserved, but without effect. 
In consequence of the appellant's anxiety 
that the map of Canada should be 
brought over in safety to this country, 
he sent his second son, Mr. Charles 
Alexander, to Paris, for the purpose of 
receiving it from Mdlle. Le Normand. 
Mr. C. Alexander, who had been previ- 
ously residing in Edinburgh, with his 
mother, was only nine days in Paris, 
when the map was delivered to Iiim, on 
the 8th of November, 1837, being the 
same day on which he left Paris. The 
map was enclosed in an envelope, hav- 
ing the following mark upon it in the 
handwriting of Mdlle. Le Normand : — 
"Cette carte du Canada, revetue de divers 
autographes, fut mise en ma possession 



le II Juillet, 1837. Je 1' ai remise 
aujourd hui aux mains de Monsieur Al- 
exander, second fils de Lord Stirling — a 
present a Paris. La ditte carte est sous 
envellopee revetue de mon cachet. Je 
m'en desaissis en faveur de la famille 
Stirling. Cette carte n'est point sortie 
de mon interieur que pour etre revetue 
de formalitees necessaires. En foi de 
quoi J'ai signe. M. A. Le Normand." 
Upon this map of Canada were written 
and pasted various somewhat lengthy 
letters, some dating as far back as 1707, 
respecting the charter in favour of Wil- 
liam Earl of Stirling. One is a long let- 
ter from M. Mallet, who concludes with 
these words : — " Ainsi Le Roi d'Angle- 
terre donne au Compte de Stirling, et 
a assure a ses descendants en perpetuite 
assez de terres fonder un puissant em- 
pire en Amerique." And the alleged 
original of this letter bears upon its mar- 
gin the following, asserted to be a mem- 
orandum by his Majesty Louis XV. — 
' Cette note est digne de quelque atten- 
tion dans les circonstances presentes ; 
mais qu'en m'envoie la copie de la 
charte originale.' M. Villenave adds 
beneath this : ' J' atteste que les quatres 
lignesce-dessussont de la main de Louis 
XV., et parfaitements conforme a I'ecri- 
ture de ce Roi dont je possesse de plu- 
sieurs pieces et lettres autographs.' Upon 
these and the other French documents 
relied on by the appellant, the respond- 
ents made the following among other 
remarks : " The appellant sets forth that 
on the 12ih of July, 1837, he received 
information of the existence of an old 
map of Canada containing certain docu- 
ments concerning his family, partly writ- 
ten, partly pasted on its back, from 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



61 



were such decision ever made, it would have been much 
more likely to have been made in consequence of the 



Mdlle. Marie Anne Le Normand,whom 
he is pleased to style, an authoress of 
some note, who keeps a circulating libra- 
ry in Paris and possesses a considerable 
collection of unpublished MSS.' Mdlle. 
Le Normand is undoubtedly a person 
' of some note,' since she turns out to be 
no other than the person who acquired 
such unquestionable celebrity as a sybil 
and diviner.and wasmixed up in many of 
the intrigues of the Court of Napoleon 
and the Empress Josephine. She appears 
now to have fallen somewhat in station, 
though she still practises the arts of di- 
vination for hire. The documents thus 
furnished, are not traced to any higher 
source than that of Mdlle. Le Normand. 
What they want, however, in historical 
evidence is supplied by a profusion of 
attestations of their genuineness by per- 
sons of high contemporary celebrity. 
These papers, the most important of 
which purport to be a private and con- 
fidential letter from a supposed ancestor 
of the appellant, and a copy of an in- 
scription on a tomb in Ireland, which 
cannot upon any theory be supposed to 
have interested any human being except 
the defender, or the family with which 
he claims to be connected, and the suc- 
cession to which did not open by the 
failure of the direct line, until long after, 
are yet actually authenticated by the 
alleged holograph attestations of such 
persons as Flechier Bishop of Nismes, 
and the illustrious Fenelon. They are 
further dignified by a note which is 
gravely said to be the handwriting of 
Louis XV., a prince who is believed to 
have written only two words in his reign, 
his own name, ' Louis R.,' and ' bon,' as 
an approval of any document submitted to 



him. His disapproval was marked by 
a line deleing the proposal, to save the 
fatigue of further penmanship — which 
indeed he so carefully eschewed that 
even his notes to his mistresses are 
written by a secretary." See Trial of 
Alexander Humphreys, Introd. pp. 46, 
47. It is by no means improbable how- 
ever that some of these papers may have 
been genuine, though fraudulently ob- 
tained by Mdlle. Le Normand and after- 
wards adapted by her to the views of 
Humphreys, or rather to her own pur- 
pose of deceiving him. A letter will be 
found on a subsequent page, from the 
Comte Alexandre-d' Hanache to Lord 
Stirling, referring to the family connec- 
tion between them. The descendants 
of the Comte are still living in France, 
and at the time of the production of 
the map by Mdlle. Le Normand, his 
son the Comte Ernest d'Hanache was a 
captain in the garde royale, and an 
equerry to the Duchess of Berry, about 
whose person his sister also held an 
office. It is therefore very possible that 
the subtle and adroit sybil may have 
contrived by her artifices to procure from 
them without their knowledge, materials 
sufficient to deceive Humphreys, though 
not sufficient to deceive any one^ else, or 
establish his claim. In contrasting the 
claims of this person with those of the 
" American" Lord Stirling, Mr. Turn- 
bull observes that the former " modestly 
lays claim not only to the Earldom, but 
also to the whole territory in Canada, 
besides the Scottish estates pertaining 
thereto," while the latter "confined his 
claim to the honours of the patent of 
1633, limited to heirs-male ; and al- 
though he made no formal claim to the 



6a THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING, 

part he took in the American Revohition, in favour of 
his native country, especially when it is recollected that 
he had always been an ardent whig, and that the whig 
ministry who were in power when he was in England, 
with many of whom he was on terms of personal inti- 
macy, were superseded by the authors of the oppressive 
measures which provoked the resistance of the Colo- 
nies.* Be this as it may, enough has been adduced to 
show that his claim — whether allowed or not — was not 
unfounded, or at least, not unsupported by strong pre- 
sumptive proof; and that it was preferred in good 
faith, under a full conviction of its justice and validity. 
To establish these positions, and thus to vindicate his 
name from the aspersions of enemies who have repre- 
sented him as a mere adventurer, and a usurper of hon- 
ours to which he had neither title nor pretence, were the 
only motives for dwelling on the subject; nor would 
this exposition have been deemed necessary had his 
reputation in this respect been vindicated by those pro- 
fessing friends, who in their imperfect record even of 

general estates, he assumed a right to (Za/nas genuine, it would not help him — 
the lands in Canada." It has, however, for in that case, the present Marchioness 
appeared that he purchased the right in dowager of Downshire comes in before 
those lands from the heirs-at-Iaw of his him, as descended in the female line 
predecessor. Mr. TurnbuU " considers from an elder branch — viz , from a 
it probable" that Lord Stirling's " share daughter of Henry the fourth Earl, 
in the rebellion arose from the decision She has accordingly presented her peti- 
of the House of Lords against him." tion to the House of Lords, complaining 
The reverse, however, is nearer the of the assumption of the title by Hum- 
truth. We have seen what that deci- phreys. 

sion was ; and Mr. Maidment, in his * According to a statement furnished 

Analectica Scoi.ica, is of opinion that by the proper officer of the House of 

"his right to the title was well founded," Lords, the last proceeding in relation to 

and states his reasons, which, confirmed the subject, api)earing on the Journal, 

as they are by the above correspondence, was on the lOfh of March, 1762, when 

seem conclusive. As to the claim of its further consideration was postponed 

Humphreys, were his descent even what until the next session of Parliament. 
he pretends, and his charter of Novo- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



63 



his public services, have omitted to do justice to his pri- 
vate character. 

To resume the course of our narrative. Among the 
public institutions of his native city, with which Lord 
Stirlinj^ was connected, there was none in which he felt 
greater interest, or in the prosperity of which he was more 
active in promoting, than King's, now Columbia College, 
of which he was a Governor. At an early period ol its 
existence, when it was languishing from want of pecu- 
niary support, the Board of Governors commissioned 
Doctor James Jay* to repair to England to solicit aid from 
the wealthy and benevolent patrons of education in that 
country. In addition to his formal credentials he was 
furnished with the following introductions : — 

The Earl of Stirling to Lord Romney. 

" New- York, May 27th, 1762. 

" My Lord, — This part of his Majesty's dominions 
in North America, though populous and flourishing, still 
labours under the very great disadvantage of wanting a 
proper seminary for the education of youth. Some at- 
tempts have been made towards establishing one. A 
College has been founded and partly built, but for want 
of sufficient funds it is, in some measure, at a stand, and 
cannot go on with spirit. 

"It is an object that seems to me so worthy of the 
notice of the Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manu- 
factures and Commerce ;t that I could not avoid recom- 

* A younger brother of John Jay, so t Of which Lord Romney was the 
conspicuous in the councils of the Revo- President, 
lution, and in the various high public 
stations adorned by his virtues and tal- 
ents. 



64 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

mending it to your Lordship. The bearer, Dr. Jay, will 
present your Lordship with an address from the Gover- 
nors of the College. They most ardently wish for the 
countenance of the Society, as it will be the best recom- 
mendation they can have to the rest of the world. 

" I am, ifec." 

The Earl of Stirling to the Earl of Bute. 

" New- York, May 24th, 1762. 

" My Lord, — This part of his Majesty's dominions, 
though very flourishing, and growing in numbers, still 
labours under the great disadvantage of being without a 
seminary of learning for the education of its youth. 
Attempts have been made for establishing a College in 
the Province of New- York ; but, for want of sufficient 
funds, the plan cannot be carried into execution : where- 
fore the Governors of the College now send Dr. Jay over 
to England to endeavour to collect some funds there. 
He carries with him a petition to his Majesty, for his 
Royal favour, and is ordered to wait on your Lordship 
with it, hoping that your Lordship will be so good as to 
advise him what will be the most agreeable manner of its 
being presented. 

" The Governors also most fervently wish to have 
your Lordship's countenance and protection, from my 
frequent experience of which, I am induced to trouble 
your Lordship with this letter.* 

* On the presenting of this Petition successful in other quarters. Lord Bute 

by Dr. Jay, the King was pleased to contributed liberally. Several private 

confer upon him the honour of Knight- individuals, among whom was Mr. H. 

hood. But this, it is believed, was the Drummond, also made donations ; and 

extent of the " Royal favour" to King's the University of Oxford, a valuable one 

College. Sir James was, however, more in books. It seems from the following 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 55 

" We have just received advice of the Earl of 
Albemarle's safe arrival at Martinique, with his troops 
in good health ; and, after having joined the other troops 
there, of his being on his way to the Havannah. I 
congratulate your Lordship on the prosperous aspect that 
expedition now wears. 

" I am, &c." 



Besides these letters, there was one to Mr. Drum- 
mond, soliciting his aid and good offices for the College, 
and requesting permission for Dr. Jay to make use of 
his banking-house for depositing the money he might 
collect. 

Applications to Lord Stirling for recommendations 
and introductions to his friends in England were not 
confined to occasions of a public nature, but were fre- 
quently asked for by private acquaintances, and cheerful- 
ly given to all he thought worthy of them. The follow- 
ing partakes of the former character, while it refers to 
one of the latter description. 



letter that Sir James Jay, after his re- countenance such an appearance, I take 

turn, had some dispute with the Cover- the liberty to address myself to you. 

nors respecting his compensation ; — But allow me, my Lord, to say that even 

if the trouble you have already taken on 

Sir James Jay, Kn't, 31. D. to the Earl niy account did not preclude me from 

oj biirling. expecting you should put yourself to 

" My Lord, — As I have sent cards to any inconvenience, the idea I entertain 

the Governors of the College acquaint- of your Lordship would make me think 

ing them that the meeting held on Mon- it indelicate, as well as unnecessary, as 

day next is for the purpose of concluding you know of the meeting, to hint a wish 

matters between that Corporation and of that kind to a person who it is evident 

myself, it might appear rude were I to wants no other incitement than his own 

omit doing the same to your Lordship, generosity to lend his assistance on such 

Lest a total silence on my part should an occasion. I am, &c.'' 



(56 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Thomas Harley, Esq. to the Earl of Stirling. 

" London, June 12th, 1762. 

" My Lord, — I duly received your favour of the 26th 
of February last, and am greatly indebted to your Lord- 
ship for interesting yourself in my welfare in the manner 
you have done. The method you propose of introducing 
me to the acquaintance of the principal people in the 
Province of New-York, is of all others the most agree- 
able to me ; and I assure you I shall look upon it as a great 
honour to be employed in the service of the Assembly of 
so respectable a Province, and will endeavour to discharge 
the duty of that office to their utmost wishes. At pre- 
sent, I have no acquaintance with Mr. Robert Charles,* 
but I do not doubt of your carrying on the business with 
harmony, to the satisfaction of the Assemblj^ 

" You very rightly observe that this will not only be 
an introduction to the most considerable houses in New- 
York, but will be the means of making me fully ac- 
quainted with the affairs in North America in general, 
which I hope, when it pleases God to restore to us a 
peace, to see in a more flourishing condition. 

" As yet, I have not had the pleasure of seeing Mr. 
Peter De Lancey, Jr. He sent your letter to me by a 
messenger, a few days ago, too late for the last mail, other- 
wise, I should have acknowledged the receipt of it sooner. 
You may depend upon my showing him every civility ; 
and where my little knowledge will be of any service to 
him, I will give him my advice freely. 

*' I am, &c." 



* The Agent in England of the N. of Lord Stirling, joined as a counsellor 
Y. House of Assembly, with whom Mr. and adviser. 
Harley was, upon the recommendation 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 



Peter De Lancey, Jr. Esq. to the Earl of Stirling. 



67 



" London, July 5th, 1762. 

"My Lord, — I hope jour Lordship will pardon my 
taking the liberty to trouble you with my most thankful 
acknowledgments for the favour you did me by your 
kind recommendations, from which I have received par- 
ticular advantages, especially from that to Mr. Wedder- 
burn, who has been the chief means of settling me here 
in a Avay from which I hope a prospect of great advan- 
tage and happiness. 

" Give me leave to assure your Lordship that I shall 
always have a grateful remembrance of your kindness. 

" I am, &c." 

Philip Livingston, Jr, Esq.* to the Earl of Stitling. 

•'• London, October 25tli, 1762. 

*'My Lord, — From the marks of kindness you have 
shown me by your advice and letters of recommendation 
to gentlemen of figure here, I flatter myself that it will 
not be displeasing to you to hear of my present situation ; 
having it now in my power to acquaint your Lordship 
that I am well fixed in the Temple according to my 
wishes, in a pleasant sett of chambers in New Court, 

* This gentleman was the son of of the United States, and afterwards a 
Peter Van Brugh Livingston, a brother of Representative in Congress. He was 
Lady Stirling's, and of a sister of his not an orator, but an excellent business 
Lordship's. He was at its date pursu- member, and highly respected for his 
ing the study of the Law in the Temple, strict integrity, sound judgment, general 
After his return to America, he com- information, and good sense. From his 
menced its practice in New-York ; but high breeding and courtly manners, he 
relinquished it upon the death of his early acquired the soubriquet of" Gen- 
father, from whom he inherited an am- tleman Phil," and he certainly seems to 
pie fortune. He was the first President have entertained very gentlemanly no- 
of the N. Y. Branch of the first Bank tions as to his style of living in London. 



gg THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Middle Temple. They are not elegant, notwithstanding 
they are at a high rent, but still so decent that I am not 
ashamed to have any gentleman shown in, that is so kind 
as to call on me. My mornings are generally engaged in 
study, which, as they are very long, I am told is suffi- 
cient to be applied in reading, for I seldom dine until 
four o'clock ; and then with a sett of gentlemen at the 
Turk's head Coffee-house in the Strand, in whose ac- 
quaintance I think myself very happy. The Mr. Aliens 
of Philadelphia were so kind as to introduce me to this 
sett, on my first coming up to town. Most of them are 
men of consiUrable fortune, — two of your friends, Messrs. 
John and Dick Penn, when in town, dine frequently 
with us. The only circumstance that may be disagree- 
able in my present connection is that of expense, 
which I am afraid will be greater than my father at first 
intended. But I lately wrote to him that I find it will 
be impossible to live on less than £450 sterling ^er an- 
num. This is undoubtedly the case, for the rent of 
chambers being high, the expenses; of servants, clothes, 
&:c., so many and so great, that it is absolutely impossi- 
ble for an American who has never lived in London to 
have an idea of it. Your Lordship's advice in any par- 
ticular will be esteemed the highest favour. 

" I am, &c." 

" P. S. The high and mighty Wilham Franklin has 
taken his passage for Philadelphia." 

The following, from an old family servant, forms no 
unpleasing contrast with that which precedes it. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



69 



Johannes Race to the Earl of Stirling. 

" Stissing, November 2d, 1762. 

" May it please your Lordship, — As by the gen- 
erous beneficence of your Lordship's ever honoured father, 
deceased, your aged servant has enjoyed a free pos- 
session of a small part of his estate, which, for such con- 
siderations as w^ell became the noble donor, w^as freely 
given during life ; and as your Lordship is now entitled, 
not only to the paternal estate, but august honours of 
your noble family, your aged servant, with equal confi- 
dence, addresses your Lordship, requesting the privilege 
to call home the bearer, his youngest son, to live with 
him, to contribute to the comfort of his infirm and 
declining years, by overseeing his business, and taking 
such filial care as your aged servant's circumstances 
require. 

" Much relying and confiding in the continuance of 
the favours of your noble family, 

" I am, &:c." 

The letters that immediately follow, although relating 
to the personal concerns and connections of the parties, 
are not without interest, from either the nature of the 
circumstances, or the characters of the persons to whom 
they refer. 

John Penn, Esq. to the Earl of Stirling. 

" Stoke, September 3d, 1762. 

" Dear Stirling, — I am almost angry with you for 
not writing me a line since you left England, especially, 
as you may be assured, not one of your friends would 
have been more pleased with hearing from you than my- 



70 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

self. I can only forgive you upon your promising to be- 
have better for the future, which I expect to have under 
your hand as soon as you receive this, if you are not so 
thunderstruck with what I am going to inform you of, as 
to be deprived of the use of your senses for some time. 

"It is no less amazing than true, that Mr. William 
Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin, of Philadelphia, is 
appointed to be Governor of the Province of New Jer- 
sey ! The warrant for his commission was ordered to be 
made out last Wednesday. The whole of this business 
has been transacted in so private a manner, that not a 
tittle of it escaped until it was seen in the public papers ; 
so that there was no opportunity of counteracting, or, 
indeed, doing one single thing that might put a stop to 
this shameful affair. I make no doubt but the people of 
New Jersey will make some remonstrance upon this in- 
dignity put upon them. You are full as well acquainted 
with the character and principles of this person as my- 
self, and are as able to judge of the impropriety of such 
an appointment. What a dishonour and disgrace it must 
be to a country to have such a man at the head of it, and 
to sit down contented! Surely that will not be the case 
— at least, I should hope that some effort would be made, 
before our Jersey friends would put up with such an in- 
sult. If any gentleman had been appointed, it would 
have been a different case — but I cannot look upon the 
person in question in that light, by any means. How 
this matter will turn out, 1 know not, but I should be 
very sorry to see him first in that Government, as there 
cannot, in my opinion, any good result from it — but, on 
the contrary, dishonour and disgrace to the country, and 
hatred of the people to himself. I may, perhaps, be too 
strong in my expressions, but I am so extremely aston- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 7 1 

ished and enraged at it, that I am hardly able to contahi 
myself at the thoughts of it. 

" We are told we shall see you in England ; but ii 
you do not make haste, I believe I shall taste some 
of your old Madeira before you are aware of it ; but 
I reserve that for another time. 1 think I have given 
you a pretty good dose this bout ; so shall take my leave 
of you, by assuring you that 

•' I am, &c." 

Robert Hunter Morris, Esq. to the Earl of Stirling. 

" Tinton, March 4th, 1763. 

" My Dear Lord, — John Penn mentioned to me a 
design to come to America, and tells me in a second let- 
ter that he did not choose the thing should be talked of: 
and having mentioned the same thing in a letter to your 
Lordship, he begs me to hint to you to be silent on that 
head, until we hear further from him. 

" The Duchess of Gordon, from whom I have a let- 
ter since I left you, begs to be particularly mentioned 
to your Lordship. The Duke and Lord William are 
gone from Geneva to Italy. 

" 1 beg my compliments to Lady Stirling and the 
family. With great respect, 

" 1 am, &c." 

William Coxe, Esq. to the Earl of Stirling. 

'• Philadelphia. May 16th, 1763. 

" My Lord, — This will be delivered to you by Mr 
Francis, a brother of Mrs. Coxe's, whom I have taken 
the liberty of introducing to your Lordship's notice, be- 
cause I have no doubt of your friendship. 



72 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

" The matter is this, mj Lord ; Mr Francis, on a 
late tour to Pittsburgh, was informed by Mr. Croghan, 
the present deputy-agent for Indian affairs under Sir 
William Johnson, in that district, that he had applied for 
liberty to resign, on a call he has to England on his pri- 
vate business ; and Mr. Francis's natural disposition, 
and some pains he has taken to qualify himself for that 
kind of service, inclines him to try if he can get it — and 
his knowledge of the Six Nations' language and customs, 
he thinks, will enable him to execute it well. 

*' I know not to whom to address myself, my Lord, 
on this occasion ; but if your Lordship can favour Mr. 
Francis with your advice and assistance to get the thing 
mentioned to Sir William Johnson, or Sir Jeffrey Amherst, 
we suppose it lies with them to give it to the person they 
judge fit for it ; and, from Mr. Francis's service in the 
army, he is not unknown to either ; for he is now an old 
lieutenant in the 44th, and his service under Sir William 
in the reduction of Niagara, and under Sir Jeffrey in 
the finishing service against Montreal, may not be unfa- 
fourable circumstances — more particularly as he had a 
greater share of command with Indian parties, to em- 
barrass the enemy and get intelHgence, than most regu- 
lar officers. 

" If your Lordship can put our brother in the proper 
road to make the application, it will be gratefully acknow- 
ledged by a family that esteem it their greatest happiness 
that they are a family of harmony ; and I think it would be 
augmented by seeing their brother like to continue in 
this country, where they may sometimes have his com- 
pany. Whether this will be best done by a recommen- 
datory letter from your Lordship, or otherwise, I own I 
am not a competent judge ; but any mode your Lord- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



73 



ship shall point out, Mr. Francis will willingly pursue. 
I knew not, my Lord, any of my friends that could so 
well do me this piece of service ; and your kind offices 
to Mr. Francis, I hope will not reflect on your Lord- 
ship's judgment, because 1 think him deserving. 

" 1 am, &c." 

The following note from the Commander-in-Chief 
of the King's troops in America, relates, probably, to a 
party of soldiers he had lent for fatigue duty on some 
official survey in New Jersey. 

Sir Jeffrey Amherst to the Same, 

New- York, June 19th, 1763. 

" My Lord, — I am sorry to be obliged to take away 
the small detachment of men I lent your Lordship. 
But the alarms from the Indians on the back settlements 
are so great, that I must collect all the force I can, to 
be in readiness to march for the protection of the inhabit- 
ants. I therefore send an officer with orders to receive 
the men and conduct them to the camp on Staten Island ; 
but shall be very glad to order them back again when 
the service will permit me. 

" My respects to Lady Stirling and the young ladies. 
I did not know of their leaving town so soon, or I should 
have waited on them before they set out. 

" I am, &c." 

The following letter is addressed to the Minister 
under whom the treaty of peace with Great Britain in 
1783 was negociated, and the independence of the Col- 
onies acknowledged. The occasion of it was his ap- 
pointment as President of the Board of Trade and Plan- 
tations : its subject displays the watchfulness and saga- 



74 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



city of the writer in seizing upon an opportunity to pro- 
mote the prosperity of his native country ; and it also 
serves to show what occupations he had proposed to 
himself in his retirement as most conducive to his own 
happiness, and his usefulness to others. 



The Earl of Stirling to the Earl of Shelburne* 

" New- York, August 6th, 1763. 

" My Dear Lord, — Nothing could have given me 
greater satisfaction than hearing of your Lordship's ap- 



* Afterwards Marquess of Landsdown, 
and father of the late, and present peers 
of that title. The character of this 
nobleman is admirably, and it is believ- 
ed faithfully, portrayed by the younger 
D' Israeli in his political novel of " Sybil." 
The historical interest and fidelity of the 
passage, as well as the felicity of its 
language, will excuse its introduction 
here. After sketching, with a bold and 
dexterous hand, the characters and poli- 
cy ofBolingbroke, and of Carteret, M-hose 
daughter Lord Shelburne married — the 
author proceeds : " Of him (Shelburne) 
it is singular that we know less than of 
his father-in-law ; yet from the scatter- 
ed traits, some idea may be formed of 
the ablest and most accomplished min- 
ister of the eighteenth century. Lord 
Shelburne, influenced probably by the 
example and traditionary precepts of his 
eminent father-in-law, appears early to 
have held himself aloof I'rom the patri- 
cian connection, and entered public life 
as the follower of Bute in the first great 
effort of George III., to rescue the sove- 
reignty from what Lord Chatham called 
' the Revolution families.' He became 
in time a member of Lord Chatham's 
last administration, one of the strongest 
and most unsuccessful efforts to aid the 



grandson of George II., in his struggle 
for political emancipation. Lord Shel- 
burne adopted, from the first, the Bo- 
lingbroke system ; a real royalty in lieu 
of the chief magistracy ; a permanent 
alliance with France, instead of the whig 
scheme of viewing that power as the 
natural enemy of England ; and, above 
all, a plan of commercial freedom, the 
germ of which may be found in the 
long maligned negociations of Utrecht, 
but which, in the instance of Lord Shel- 
burne, was soon in time matured by 
all the economical science of Europe, 
in which he was a proficient. Lord Shel- 
burne seems to have been of a reserved 
and somewhat astute disposition: deep 
and adroit, he was, however, brave and 
firm. His knowledge was extensive, 
and even profound ; he pursued both 
literary and scientific investigations ; 
his house was frequented by men of let- 
ters, especially those distinguished by 
their political abilities, or economical at- 
tainments. He maintained the most 
extensive private correspondence of any 
public man of his time. The earliest 
and most authentic information reached 
him from all Courts and quarters of 
Europe ; and it was a common phrase, 
that the minister of the day sent to him 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



75 



pointment to preside at the Board which must have so 
great a share in the government of a country in which 
it is my lot to reside. Your Lordship's early inquiries, 
and strong desire of acquiring knowledge of this new 
world, must now be of great use to your country ; for 
on a proper management of the Colonies on this con- 
tinent, much of Great Britain's future greatness depends. 
The wants of its increasing population must at all events 
greatly increase the manufactures of the mother-coun- 
try ; but the suppression of such branches of trade as 
interfere with the importation of them from Great Bri- 
tain, and the encouragement of such a cultivation of 
these Colonies as will supply her with the raw mate- 
rials, for which she is now obliged to pay millions to 
foreign nations, is a work that must render the value of 
this continent to Great Britain inestimable. These 
things have, no doubt, occurred to your Lordship, as 
well as the proper mode of carrying them into execution. 
But if you can indulge me, I will, from time to time, 
send you such hints as occur to me, of measures suitable 
to this part of the continent ; you may perhaps find 
something among them that has escaped your notice. 
" The making of pig and bar iron, and the cultiva- 

often for the important information they show on all questions discussed, a 
which the cabinet could not itself com- richness and variety of information with 
mand. Lord Sheiburne was the first which the speeches of no statesman of 
great minister that comprehended the that age, except Mr. Burke, can corn- 
rising importance of the middle class ; pare." This portrait, tinged, as it is, 
and foresaw in its future power, a bul- with some of the peculiarities of its ec- 
wark against the great ' Revolution fam- centric, though clever author, goes far 
ilies.' Of his qualities in council we to redeem his " young English" absurdi- 
have no record : there is reason to be- ties. Yet there are some touches in it 
lieve that his administrative ability was that do not altogether harmonize with 
conspicuous ; his speeches prove that if his late speeches and vote against the 
not supreme, he was eminent, in the repeal of the corn-laws, 
art of parliamentary disputation, while 



76 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

tion of hemp, are two articles that want encouragement 
greatly. We are capable of supplying Great Britain 
with both, to a great extent ; but the first requiring a 
large stock to begin with, people of moderate fortunes 
cannot engage in it ; and those of large ones are as yet 
very few, and their attention is generally given to the 
pursuit of other objects. Some few, indeed, in this Pro- 
vince, and in New Jersey, have lately erected excellent 
works, the success of which, I hope, will encourage others 
to follow their example. As to hemp, our farmers have 
got into a beaten track of raising grain and grazing cat- 
tle, and there is no persuading them out of it, unless by 
examples and premiums ; and these it would be well for 
Government to try — a few thousand pounds expended 
in that way might have a good effect. 

" The making of wine, also, is worth the attention 
of Government. Without its aid, the cultivation of the 
vine will be very slow ; for of all the variety of vines in 
Europe, we do not yet know which of them will suit 
this climate ; and until that is ascertained by experi- 
ment, our people will not plant vineyards ; — few of us 
are able, and a much less number willing, to make the 
experiment. I have lately imported about twenty dif- 
ferent sorts, and have planted two vineyards, one in this 
Province, and one in New Jersey ; but I find the experi- 
ments tedious, expensive, and uncertain ; for after eight or 
ten years' cultivation, I shall perhaps be obliged to reject 
nine tenths of them as unfit for the climate, and then begin 
new vineyards from the remainder. But, however tedious, 
I am determined to go through with it. Yet I could 
wish to be assisted in it. I would then try it to a greater 
extent, and would the sooner be able to bring the culti 
vation of the grape into general use. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



77 



" It is in these vineyards, my Lord, and the clearing 
a large body of rich swamp lands in New Jersey, and 
fitting it for the cultivation of hemp — settling a good 
farm in the wilderness, and bringing to it some of the 
productions and improvements of Europe, that are my 
present employments. They have taken place of the 
pleasures of London, and I sometimes persuade myself 
that this is the happier life of the two. Yet there are 
some hours I could wish to have repeated, those in which 
I was honoured with your Lordship's conversation, which, 
I shall ever recollect with the greatest pleasure. 

" I am, &;c." 

Lt. Colonel William Amherst* to the Earl of Stirling. 

" New- York, October 11th, 1763. 

" My Dear Lord, — Napier and your humble ser- 
vant arrived here safe last night after a pleasant ride. 
We brought the packet in with us, which Napier all 
along said we should do. He stands a fair chance of 
suffering for witchcraft, which he must now be shrewdly 
suspected of. 

" I have not yet seen a paper, nor heard any mate- 
rial news. Correspondents say there is nothing new 
since the last packet. The Queen was expected to lay 
in every day, when the packet sailed, which was the 
20th of August. General Moncktonf had a very gra- 
cious reception. 

" It may not be long before my brother and I leave 
this country. He has his leave signified to him in the most 
gracious manner. This is only to yourself. Whatever 

* A brother of Sir Jeffrey's. afterwards Lieut. Governor of Nova 

t Robert Monckton — he had served Scotia, and Governor of New York, 
as a Brigadier under Wolfe, and was 



78 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

country I am in, I should be happier were you there, as 
there is no one who can say, with more real esteem and 
regard to your Lordship, that 

" I am, Sic." 

" P. S. The situation of things will not permit our 
departure yet awhile. It will probably be late in the 
winter first. I shall therefore spend some sociable hours 
by your fireside — to whom 1 beg to be remembered. 
Pray forward the enclosed with care and dispatch to 
Mrs. Gage,* — she will be glad to receive it." 

Lt. General Gagej- to the Earl of Stirling. 

"New-York, December 14th, 1763. 

" My Lord, — Captain Price, agent for transports, 
having informed me that your Lordship has knowledge 
of an affair in dispute between him and Mr. Wallace, 
and that you had agreed to become his bail — which was 
to have been completed yesterday, had not some difficulty 
arose in regard to it. 1 should therefore be much obliged 
to your Lordship for any insight or information you can 
give me relative thereto. Though, from what I at pres- 
ent perceive, it is a private transaction betwixt Captain 
Price and Mr. Wallace^ in which the Commander-in- 
Chief, or the Crown are in no ways interested ; never- 
theless, from the representations of Captain Price that 

* The Lady of General Gage, the himself notorious by his conduct at Bos- 
successor of Sir Jeffrey Amherst in the ton at the breaking out of the Revolu- 
command in America. She was of the tion On his return to England he was 
Kemble family, and was then on a visit created a Baronet — and after his death, 
to her relations at Mount Kemble be- his son, who adopted his profession and 
tween Baskenridge and Morristown, distinguished himself in the service, was 
N. J. raised to the peerage. 

t This officer afterwards rendered 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



79 



he must go to goal if Mr. Marston withdrew his bail — 
which he told him he would — and from his assuring me 
that in case the difficulties of your Lordship's becoming 
his bail could not be removed, Colonel De Lancej^ had 
promised to be security for him, I took upon me to write 
to Mr. Marston, desiring he would postpone doing any 
thing until this day, and that 1 would inquire into it, and 
endeavour to have it settled. In order to comply with 
which, I take the liberty of imposing upon your Lord- 
ship this trouble. 

" I am, &c." 



Robert Hunter Morris, Esq. to the Earl of Stirling, 

" Tinton, December 23rd, 1763. 

" My Dear Lord, — It gave me great concern that 
my illness in Philadelphia prevented my seeing your 
Lordship at Burlington, and thanking you in person for 
the two letters you did me the honour to write since we 
parted. 

" Your Lordship doubtless heard what was done in 
the Sessions relative to the Indian war, as well as what 
was attempted and not done ; and being no stranger to 
the men, or the principles upon which they act, you will 
easily account for their conduct. Perhaps, should the 
Eastern Governments come heartily into the General's 
measures, something may be done at the next meeting ; 
but New-York must lead the way, and if we follow, it 
is as much as can be reasonably expected from us, es- 
pecially as Pennsylvania will do nothing, at least at their 
first sitting. 

"My best regards attend Lady Stirling; I hope she 
has had her health since her return to New-York. My 



QQ THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

compliments to Lady Mary and Lady Kitty,* who, 1 
doubt not, enjoy the town and its amusements the better 
from having sung Psalms at Baskenridge last summer. | 

" I am, &c." 

The circumstance mentioned at the commencement 
of the following letter, in connection with its date, and 
the date and authorship of that which precedes it, affords 
a striking instance of the uncertainty of human life. 



The Earl of Stirling to Governor Franklin. \ 

" New-York, January 30th, 1764. 

"Dear Sir, — By the death of Chief Justice Morris 
another seat in your Excellency's Council has become 
vacant ; upon which I beg leave to offer you my senti- 
ments. The office of Chief Justice is a dangerous one 
to leave open ; for its being so will be an inducement^to 
the Ministry to fill it up. They will think it incumbent 
upon them to fill up an office they are informed is 
vacant ; and if they do fill it up from thence, it is a 
thousand to one if it be tolerably filled — for who will 
leave Britain for this appointment ? And yet the office 
is of the utmost importance to the Crown, as well as to 
every individual in the Province. 

" On the other hand, if your Excellency fills it up 
during pleasure, and recommends your appointment for 

* The daughters and only children of the disgust it produced, are mentioned in 

Lord and Lady Stirling. The former preceding letters (see p. 70). This 

afterwards married to Robert Watts, disgust arose in part, probably, from the 

Esq., of New-York, and the latter to illegitimacy of his birth. His time-serv- 

Col. William Duer. ing conduct and courtier-like propen- 

t William Franklin, the natural son sities were, however, the chief causes of 
of the Philosopher, whose appointment it. He was originally a Whig, but be- 
to the Government of New Jersey, and came, ex virtute officii, a Tory. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. gj 

confirmation, it is most likely it will obtain it ; and if 
you determine on this measure, the person who most 
naturally occurs to me is Charles Reade.* But the 
superannuated state of Mr. Nevil leaves Mr. Reade alone 
on the bench, and makes it necessary that some other 
person should be thought of to fill up one, if not both 
the other seats. Fit persons are difficult to be found in 
New Jersey. Few, if any of the gentlemen of the 
country have read Law enough to qualify themselves 
for the bench, and as few of the lawyers fit for it, will 
give up their business. The only one I can think of is 
Mr. Kearney. I believe he inclines to retire from busi- 
ness, and your Excellency's offer of the office to him, 
with a seat in the Council, may, perhaps, induce him to 
accept it. If he should not incline to be in the Council, 
the next that occur to me are James Parker, and Cort- 
land Skinner, both residing at Amboy, which is a con- 
venient circumstance, added to their other qualifications.! 

* He was appointed. t John Berrien was appointed. 



CHAPTER IV 

1764-1774. 

It was in the spring of 1764, that the British Par- 
liament adopted, at the instigation of a tory administra- 
tion, the fatal measure which first provoked the resist- 
ance of the Colonies to the authority of the mother-coun- 
try. This rash experiment, though but the entering 
wedge of a system that in the end was fated to rend 
asunder the British Empire, and deprive its monarch of 
" the brightest jewel that adorned his crown," proved 
not less propitious in its event to the recusant Provin- 
ces, than immediately disastrous to the parent-state. 
Pressed by the difficulty of finding new sources of reve- 
nue to replenish a treasury well nigh exhausted by the 
expenditure of the war then lately terminated, the Brit- 
ish Minister in an evil hour departed from the policy of 
Sir Robert Walpole,* who conceived it more consonant 
to the principles of the British Constitution to confine the 
Colonies to the use of British manufactures, than to tax 
them in any other way. The person that now occupied 
the post that Walpole had so long held to the increase of 

* When urged to establish a system of his successors who would have more 

of internal taxation in the American courage, and less attachment to com- 

Provinces, that sagacious statesman re- merce than himself." Marshall's Life 

plied that " he would leave that to some of Washington, Vol. II. p. 78. 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 



83 



the wealth and commercial prosperity, and to the peace 
of his country, though wanting his political tact, was 
possessed of that courage in which the former had 
confessed himself deficient. Mr. George Grenville* 
was the first British Minister " bold " enough to propose 
taxing the Colonies without their consent, and the re- 
ception which his Stamp Act met with in America was 
such as had been predicted by those who understood the 
character and temper of the Colonists, and it led, as they 
had foreseen, to the speedy abandonment of that odious 
measure.! 

Lord Stirling had been among the foremost and most 
active of its opposers in America. He had encouraged 
a passive resistance to its execution by promoting the 
agreement to dispense with stamped paper without preju- 
dice to the contracts in which it was required to be used, 
and now exerted his influence in England in procuring the 
removal of the Parliamentary agent of the Province of 
New Jersey, who had supinely witnessed the enactment 
of the obnoxious law, and substituting in his place the 
eminent Solicitor he had employed in his affairs before 
the House of Lords, and from whom, after its repeal, 
he received the following letter : 



* The younger brother of Earl Tem- Rutherfurd, in a letter addressed to him 
pie, who was the brother-in-law of the at Baskenridge, and dated, " New-York, 
great Earl of Chatham. Mr. G. Gren- May 29th," of which the following is an 
ville was the only member of his extract : " I have the pleasure to con- 
family who was not a zealous whig, gratulate you on the repeal of the Stamp 
The late Marquis of Buckingham, and Act, and the certain assurance the Gov- 
the late Lord Grenville, were his sons. ernor gives us, by a letter he has from Sec- 

t Its repeal was announced to Lord retary Conway, that the laws on trade 

Stirling by his brother-in-law, Mr. will be regulated and modified." 



g4 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Henry Wilmot, Esq, to the Earl of Stirling. 

" Bloomsbury Square, September 25th, 1766. 

" My Dear Lord Stirling, — I received the favour 
of your Lordship's letter of the 20th of June, relative to 
my being appointed agent for your Colony. I am very 
sensible of the honour your Lordship has done me in 
thinking me worthy of it. If I was ever so averse to it, 
I would refuse nothing your Lordship wished me to ac- 
cept. I refer your Lordship to my letters to the Presi- 
dent and Speaker; and I am certain I need not desire 
your Lordship to see the salary regularly paid. 

" I hope the mother-country will have no more mis- 
understandings with her children. I think it not likely 
they should begin on our side. I entirely agree with 
your Lordship that we should be content with your com- 
merce, which, indeed, is all that is valuable in colonies, 
• — and if this commerce will bring every farthing of your 
money to Britain, I agree with your Lordship that we 
can have no more. 

" We have now had another change of administra- 
tion. These frequent changes are certainly detrimental 
to the public. I think them so destructive that I think it 
wrong to change, even to a better administration, if it 
could be had. Indeed I do not see to whom his Ma- 
jesty can now apply, if he is dissatisfied with this admin- 
istration. Lord Chatham is certainly in full possession 
of the closet, at present. My friend Lord Camden is 
Chancellor, and my old master. Lord Northington, Presi- 
dent of the Council. I am sorry Lord Dartmouth does not 
continue. I cannot but think it had been of great advan- 
tage to the Colonies to have had the First Lord of Trade, 
Secretary of State for the Colonies. It would have given 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 35 

greater dispatch, and lessened expense. This was in- 
tended. The whole matter was settled, and Lord 
Dartmouth would have kissed hands for it if the last ad 
ministration had continued a week longer. This mea- 
sure, it seems, was not liked bj Lord Chatham, who 
would not permit it. Lord Dartmouth thought it incon- 
sistent with his honour, unless that business was com- 
pleted, to continue, and therefore resigned. The Par- 
liament is to meet the 11 th of November for the dispatch 
of business. The opposition will be considerable ; but 
there is not the least doubt but the present administra- 
tion will stand if they continue to have the support of 
the Crown — which, for no other reason than the neces- 
sity of it, I think they must have. 

" I am, &c." 

A calm now seemed to overspread the political 
waters, and the agitation on this side of the Atlantic had 
entirely subsided. But the stillness proved ominous ; 
and was speedily disturbed by the revival, in a different 
shape, of the former project of drawing a revenue from 
the Colonies, without the consent or intervention of their 
local Legislatures. This interval was passed by Lord 
Stirling in the pursuits described in his letter to Lord 
Shelburne. He usually spent a part of every winter in 
the city of New-York. The remainder of the year he 
passed in New Jersey, principally at Baskenridge, where 
he devoted himself to those public duties and objects, 
which, with the exercise of private hospitality, formed 
his chief occupations and pleasure. His correspondence 
during this period possesses no greater interest than it 
affords in illustrating these pursuits. From the letter 
which immediately follows, it appears that, at its date, 



36 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

he was upon much better terms with its author than 
was the case some few years afterwards. 

Governor Franklin to the Earl of Stirling. 

" Burlington, April 2d, 1767. 

" My Dear Lord, — 1 have granted a Sheriff's com- 
mission to Mr. Cooper, agreeable to the promise I some 
time ago made to your Lordship and Mr. Kemble. 

" It affords Mrs. Frankhn and myself a good deal of 
pleasure to hear that you, with Lady Stirling and the 
young ladies, are well. We were not a little chagrined 
at our disappointment in not being able to join your party 
in your jaunt to Bethlehem ; but it was impossible, ow- 
ing to continued sickness in my family, from the time of 
our return from Baskenridge, to the beginning of De- 
cember. 1 was myself confined to my chamber upwards 
of three weeks. 1 should have wrote to your Lordship 
at the time, to acquaint you that it was not in our power 
to be of the party, but that I was in daily expectation 
of being able to undertake the journey, until I heard 
you had actually set out. But, although we were dis- 
appointed of that pleasure, we are not without hopes of 
seeing your Lordship and the ladies this Spring at Bur- 
lington when the Assembly meets, which will probably 

'be some time next month. I only wait to hear the re- 
sult of the session of Parliament with respect to a pa- 
per currency, to determine the time of meeting, of which 

\_your Lordship shall have timely notice. Mrs. Franklin 
says Lady Stirling did give her a })romise of a visit at 
that time, if it suited your Lordship to bring her and 
the young ladies with you. I heartily wish nothing may 
happen to prevent our having that happiness. 

" I am, &c." 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. Q-j 

The Earl of Stirling to Governor Franklin. 

" Baskenridge, May 26th, 1767. 

" Dear Sir, — Your very obliging letter of the 2d 
of April, I received some time ago, which I should have 
acknowledged before, but I waited to hear when your 
Excellency should fix the meeting of the Assembly, in 
order to know what answer I could make to your kind 
invitation of Lady Stirling and my daughters to Bur- 
lington ; which they determined upon accepting, if their 
other engagements could possibly admit of it. The first 
week in June they expect company from New- York, — 
some of whom are to stay while the hot weather con- 
tinues. This must deprive them of the pleasure of 
waiting upon Mrs. Franklin this summer ; but as soon 
as the summer heats are over, I purpose giving them a 
jaunt to the Westward, and spending some days at Bur- 
lington. I promise myself the pleasure of waiting upon 
your Excellency the 9th or 10th. I hope by that time 
you will receive such advices from England, of the re- 
sult of this session of Parliament, as will enable you to 
meet the other branches of the Legislature with mutual 
satisfaction. Lady Stirling and our girls join in best 
respects and wishes. 

" I am, &c." 

Philip Livingston, Jr. to the Earl of Stirling. 

" New- York, 6th October, 1767. 

" My Dear Lord, — Ralph Izard* told me last night 
that he was to set out this day with a large party of 

* Afterwards a Delegate to the Con- the first Congress after the adoption of 

tinental Congress, from S. C, and Min- the present Constitution. He married 

ister of the United States at the Court into the New-York family of De Lan- 

of Turin ; and subsequently a Senator in cey. 



58 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Carolinians to pay you a visit, first taking Captain Ken- 
nedy's,* and the Passaic Falls in their way. The party 
consists of Mr. Blake and lady, Mr. Mott, (a gentleman 
who was here several years ago, and perhaps you may 
remember him,) and Ralph and his wife. They dine 
to-day at Captain Kennedy's ; — to-morrow they set out 
for the Falls, and return at night to Second River ; and 
on Thursday you may expect them with you. 

" As their party is large, I have desired Izard to for- 
ward this letter to you from Newark, if an opportu- 
nity offer ; if not, to send one of his servants with it a 
few hours before him, in order to give you some notice. 

" Our family is all well. Mrs. Hoffmanf is brought 
to bed of a son. Make my best respects to Lady Stir- 
ling, Lady Mary, and Lady Kitty. 

" I am, &c." 

*' P. S. I find Major Butlerf of the 29th Regiment is 
also of the party." 

John Tabor Kempe, Esq.^ to the Same. 

"New- York, October 13th, 1767. 

" My Lord, — I have, with the approbation of some 
of your Lordship's friends and mine, taken the resolu- 
tion of visiting England immediately, from the prospects, 
in the present situation of affairs there, of effecting a 
proper establishment for the offices I hold, — American 
affairs being now the great object of the consideration of 
the Ministry — and the arrangements and dispositions 

* Afterwards Earl of Cassiiis. He a delegate to the Continental Congress, 

was by birth a Scotchman ; had married a member of the Convention that formed 

into the New- York family of Watts, the Constitution of the U. S., and a 

and settled in New Jersey. Senator in Congress. 

t A sister of Lady Stirling's. § Attorney General of the Province 

X Pierce Butler, of S. C, afterwards of New-York. 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 39 

with respect to the Crown officers, and their support in 
the Colonies, being postponed for this winter's consid- 
eration. This, my Lord, is my principal reason for the 
voyage ; though I do not communicate it to any but 
those I esteem my particular friends, and would wish it 
may remain a secret. 

" As in the transacting of this business I must ne- 
cessarily see those in power, and who have influence in 
the Court of Great Britain, — many of whom are your 
Lordship's friends and acquaintances, — and as you are 
not unacquainted with the labours I must submit to here, 
and that the whole burthen of the business of the Crown 
in my department is on me, and at present is at my own 
expense, with a very inadequate support, — I have taken 
the liberty to beg from your Lordship the favour of such 
letters to such of your friends as can serve me, as you 
can with convenience allow yourself to give me. If I 
can settle my affairs, I would wish to go in the Edward, 
Captain Miller (who will certainly sail by to-morrow 
week at farthest) — as Mr. Daniel Coxe and Mrs. Coxe 
propose going by the same opportunity. Let me entreat 
your Lordship to excuse the liberty I lake in making 
this request. 

" I am, &c." 

Daniel Coxe, Esq. to the Same. 

« Elizabethtown, October 27th, 1767. 

" My Lord, — I propose sailing for England about the 
15th of next month, via Philadelphia; and when there, 
shall enter upon the transaction of some family affairs, 
which will require the influence and countenance of 
the first characters, if I can be so happy as to obtain 
their notice. I am sensible, my Lord, it is in your power 



90 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

to assist me by your good offices in this particular ; and 
I need not say how much myself and family will esteem 
themselves obliged in your kind recommendations in my 
favour, to any of your noble acquaintance in England, 
whose countenance you may judge of consequence. I 
should not, my Lord, have taken the liberty to intreat 
this favour, were I not persuaded, from the long ac- 
quaintance and friendship of our families, that you would 
gladly do any thing in your power to serve us — and 
which, I hope, will apologize for this address. 

" 1 would have waited on your Lordship in person 
to have received your commands, but I am much straight- 
ened in point of time to prepare. Any letters that you 
may honour me with, I shall be obliged to your Lordship 
to forward to Lady St. Clair, who will be so good as to 
take charge of them for me. I shall be happy to execute 
any commissions for your Lordship and family, in my 
power, in England. The Mississippi claim is my object. 

« I am, &c." 

Captain Archibald Kennedy^ R. N. to the Same. 

" New- York, the 30th November, 1767, 

" Mr Dear Lord, — I proposed doing myself the 
pleasure of waiting on your Lordship before I left the 
Jerseys, but was prevented by a suit in Chancery rela- 
ting to our family affairs, which I am afraid will occasion 
my leaving this country without enjoying that happiness, 
unless your affairs should call you to town. 

" I beg you will please to make my best respects to 
Lady Stirling, Lady Mary, and Lady Kitty. If in any 
thing I can serve you at home, please direct your favours 
for me to Will's Coffee House. 

" I am, &c." 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 9 J 

The Earl of Stirling to John Tabor Kempe, Esq. 

" Baskenridge, December 16th, 1767. 

" Dear Sir, — I did not receive jour letter of the 
12th of October, until three weeks after its date ; and 
as I understood by it you were to embark, in the Edward, 
I concluded you had sailed before it came to my hands. 
Yesterday I was informed you had not gone in the Ed- 
ward, but proposed to go in the Coventry. Though I am 
afraid this will be too late to reach you in New- York, 
yet I hope it will reach you in London, early enough to 
be of some use to you. 

" Of those among the great in England, who hon- 
oured me with their acquaintance, some are dead ; others 
change places so often that it would be difficult to pitch 
upon any who may now be of use to you ; but there is 
one gentleman, — the person to whom the enclosed letter 
is directed — who can be of great use to you, as well in 
your application respecting the support of your offices, 
as in the claims of the Coxe family. Mr. Wilmot is one 
of the most eminent Solicitors in London — intimately 
acquainted with many of the greatest personages in 
power — has easy access to most of them — is Secretary 
to the present, and was to the late Lord Chancellor. He 
is agent to this Province and several of the West India 
Islands. To him I have recommended you, and doubt 
not he will give you the best assistance in his power. 1 
have mentioned to him the situation of your affairs, and 
have left it open to you to communicate other matters 
to him as you find most proper. That you may succeed 
in your hopes, and return to this country in a manner 
agreeable to yourself and your friends, is the wish of 

" Yours, &c." 



92 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

The Same to Henry Wilmot, Esq. 

" Baskenridge, December 16th, 1767. 

" Dear Sir, — This will be delivered to you by my 
friend Mr. John Tabor Kempe, the present Attorney 
General of the Province of New-York, — which office he 
has held for some years with great reputation and honour, 
and has gone through the whole labour of the Crown 
business without assistance, and at his own expense, 
except a trifling salary. 

" American affairs being now an object of attention 
of the Ministry, and the arrangements and dispositions 
with respect to the Crown officers, and their support in 
the Colonies, being, as we are told, postponed for this 
winter's consideration, induces hihi to make this visit to 
Great Britain in hopes of obtaining a better establish- 
ment and support for the offices he holds. He has also 
some other matters in view respecting the claims of the 
Coxe family, with whom he is connected. Let me in- 
treat you, my dear sir, to be the friend of this worthy 
man, and to excuse the liberty I have taken in this re- 
commendation. 

" Some time since, the Council of Proprietors of 
East Jersey, appointed a Committee to correspond with 
you to the intent of getting some papers relative to their 
affairs which were formerly in the hands of Humphrey 
Bowles, of London. The discovery of those papers 
may be of very great use in the affairs of the Proprietors 
in general, and to mine in particular, — especially three 
books of Minutes and Registers. The latter contain 
records of most of the early deeds and conveyances be- 
tween proprietor and proprietor. They were, as ap- 
pears from a letter of Margaret Bowles, dated upwards 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 93 

of twenty years ago, in her hands. About eight years 
ago, Messrs. De Lancey and Cuyler of this country, 
made a purchase of Bowles's estate in this Province, and, 
by their agent, Mr. Moses Franks, in London, bargained 
that all the papers relating to New Jersey in the hands 
of Bowles, should be delivered up to them. While 1 
was in London, Mr. Franks often told me there were 
many large chests and trunks full of those books, parch- 
ments, and papers (cart-loads, and tuns, were sometimes 
his expression) ; but afterwards, on sending for them, 
with the approbation of De Lancey and Cuyler, a few 
deeds relative to the particular estate of Bowles, only 
have appeared. You will oblige me and all the proprie- 
tors very much, by giving your attention to this affair ; 
to find out from Bowles's executors, what papers and 
books they delivered up to Franks, what he received 
from Bowles, and how he disposed of them ; — and let 
me beg of you to give me the earliest intelligence of 
your success. 

" I am, &c." 

The Same to Captain Archibald Kennedy, R. N, 

" Baskenridge, December 16th, 1767. 

" Dear Sir, — I did not receive your favour of the 
30th of November, until this day ; — nor did I, until then, 
know of your intention of sailing this fall, or I would 
certainly have met you in New- York. I most sincerely 
wish you a good voyage, and a speedy return to this 
country ; and, if it is in the policy of the great ones to 
keep any ship on this station, that you may come out 
in one to your liking. I can at present write nothing 
that can be new to you, so soon after your departure, 
excepting that I have heard the New- York Assembly 



94 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

have at last exactly complied with the billetting Act, and 
that the Bill for that purpose is accepted bj the Gov- 
ernor and Council ; wherefore, I am in hopes that we 
shall now live in peace on that subject. 

" I should be glad you would bring out for me Lord 
Littleton's New History of Henry VH. ; a very good 
spying-glass, or refracting telescope ; a neat, plain ba- 
rometer, and a thermometer with graduations more ex- 
tensive, and tube longer than they are commonly made, 
as our extremes of heat and cold often either fill the tube 
or sink the mercury into the ball. 

" Ten of the chiefs of the Cherokees are arrived at 
New-York from Carolina, on their way to Sir William 
Johnson's, where they expect to conclude a treaty of 
peace with the Six Nations. Rogers* is playing the devil 
at Michilimackinack. 

" I am, &c." 

The following letter relates to the claims of the Earl 
of Perth as a Proprietor of East Jersey. It would seem 
that some misunderstanding had arisen between that no- 
bleman and Lord Stirling ; which could not, however, 
have been of any long duration, as the latter was not long 
afterwards upon terms of intimacy with Lord Drum- 
mond, the son and heir of Lord Perth, who came to this 
country to look after his father's affairs, and who, as will 
be seen hereafter, applied to Lord Stirling to assist him 
in a serious difficulty in which he became involved at an 
early period of the Revolutionary War. B 

* Major Robert Rogers, of New though he started thence with the inten- 

Hampshire, an active partisan officer, tion of going to Michilimackinack, he 

commanding a corps of Rangers, was obliged to abandon the attempt on 

About Dec. 1st he had taken possession account of the ice. 
of the French fortress at Detroit. AI- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



95 



The Earl of Stirling to William Smith, Jr. Esq.* 

» Baskenridge, October 18th, 1768. 

" My Dear Sir, — In consequence of what I informed 
you in my last I had written to Mr. Kelly, I had a meet- 
ing with Lord Drummond and him at Elizabethtown, 
by their appointment, on Monday the 10th instant. 
They showed me all the opinions except yours, on the 
controversy between the Earl of Perth and the Assignees 
of Sonmans. This I understood to be the express and 
sole intent of the meeting, and, as Surveyor-General, 
I read those opinions purely in the intention of being 
instructed in the duty of my office ; yet I found after- 
wards that they expected that those opinions would have 
had some influence on me with regard to the merits of the 
controversy, and seemed to wonder that I did not imme- 
diately make some proposition towards giving the claim 
against Lord Perth quietly up. I had so little idea of 
this being any part of the intention of the meeting, that 
1 never consulted the gentlemen concerned against Lord 
Perth on it, in this view of the matter, and consequently 
could have no power to make any propositions, nor any 
right to deliver an opinion on the merits. Had I been 
alone in the controversy, I would freely have told them 
my sentiments. 

" I found also, from Mr. Kelly, that Lord Perth is 
much exasperated against me for the part I have acted 
in this matter. If it is as Surveyor-General, my answer 
is, that I have only obeyed orders which I conceive the 
duties of my office obliges me to obey ; — if as a party 
claiming against his Lordship, I have only joined in 

* The son of the historian, afterwards Peace of 1783 — when he was transferred 
Chief Justice of New- York, until the to Canada. 



96 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

measures advised bj eminent Counsel as proper to pre- 
serve an estate which they supposed we had an equita- 
ble title to, — and this I conceive every man has a right 
to do without deserving censure. However, as I have a 
great regard for several gentlemen who are mutual 
friends of Lord Perth and myself, and as I am desirous 
that the censorious part of the world shall not have it in 
their power to say that my behaviour in this matter is 
swayed by interest, I came to a determination to be no 
longer concerned therein against his Lordship, and have 
accordingly totally and bona fide divested myself of all 
claim, right or title to the half-propriety in controversy, 
by a conveyance thereof to John Stevens and Walter 
Rutherfurd, by whom I was first invested with a part of 
that claim, and 1 hope my Lord Perth and his friends 
will no longer suppose that 1 act partially to the con- 
cerned. 

" Mr. Kelly also alluded to a report which, among 
other misrepresentations, 1 have reason to believe, has 
reached the ears of Lord Perth, to wit, that R. H. Mor- 
ris and myself, being parties concerned, sat at Council 
in judgment on my Lord Perth's first receiving his war- 
rant on this half-propriety. But the truth is, we were 
neither of us interested at that time, nor expected to be ; 
but became so in the remainder of Sonman's estate many 
months afterwards. Had the advice I then gave, of 
granting the warrants to the heirs or assigns of Lord 
Melford, been adhered to, this controversy would long 
since have been determined ; — for, on the first location 
of them, a suit might have arisen, which would have 
brought the matter to a speedy issue. But enough of 
this. Believe me that 

'" I am, &c." 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 97 

About this time Lord Stirling appears to have 
given up his house in New-York, and thenceforward to 
have resided altogether in New Jersey. He continued, 
in his retreat at Baskenridge, his former course of life, 
combining with his private occupations, the duties of his 
public stations. 

It was at this period that an event occurred, which 
caused much excitement among the people, and great un- 
easiness to the Government of New Jersey. In July, 
1768, Stephen Skinner, Treasurer of the eastern division 
of the Province, reported to the Governor, that the iron 
chest in which he kept the public money, had been rob- 
bed of more than six thousand pounds. All attempts to 
discover the robbers were in vain. The subject engaged 
the attention of the Legislature, and was warmly dis- 
cussed at several sessions, without arriving at any con- 
clusion as to the guilty parties. At length a resolution 
was passed by the Assembly, declaring that the robbery 
happened through the negligence of the Treasurer. In 
order to exculpate himself, that functionary made new 
and greater exertions to discover the criminals ; and it 
seems that his suspicions had for some time rested on 
one Samuel Ford, an Englishman by birth, who had 
married and settled in New Jersey. The result of 
these efforts proved that his suspicions were not un- 
founded. 

Ford had previously resided in the City of New- 
York, where he had once been apprehended on a charge 
of uttering forged bills of credit, purporting to have been 
issued by the Province of New Jersey. On that occa- 
sion he was admitted to bail ; but no further proceedings 
were had against him. Immediately upon his release, 
he made arrangements for carrying on the trade upon a 

7 



98 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

more extensive scale, and for that purpose, removed to 
New Jersey, and established his manufactory in a seclu- 
ded spot near Hanover, in the County of Morris. He 
there formed a connection with one Joseph Richardson ; 
and, after some abortive attempts at imitating the bills 
of New- York and New Jersey, the two accomplices re- 
paired to Ireland, in consequence of hearing that the art 
of counterfeiting had been brought to great perfection in 
Dublin. Not satisfied with their improvement in that 
school, they crossed the channel, and visited London, 
and the chief manufacturing towns in England, in order 
more fully to inform themselves of its mysteries. In 
1772 they returned to America, and commenced opera- 
tions by a new emission of bills in Pennsylvania and 
New Jersey ; and succeeded so well as to escape de- 
tection for a year or more. 

Ford was a person of much low cunning and some 
address ; and had art enough to persuade several indi- 
viduals of respectable connections in New Jersey, to aid 
in the circulation of his spurious currency. The dis- 
covery that a quantity of these bills had been suddenly 
thrown into circulation, alarmed the community, and 
excited the vigilance of the civil authority ; but the 
guilty parties for a long time eluded detection. The 
suspicion of the public, however, fell naturally upon 
Ford. It was well known that he possessed no visible 
means of livelihood but a neglected and unproductive 
farm ; and that, although he led an idle life, he had al- 
ways the command of money. These circumstances, 
in connection with the former charge against him, led to 
his arrest. Not long after his commitment to prison, 
with the assistance of one John King, a subordinate 
confederate, he effected his escape, and, in company with 
King and Richardson, fled to the western wilderness. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



99 



Several of" the persons who had aided Ford in the 
circulation of his bills, were siibsequenllj arrested ; and 
bills of indictment were found in the County of Morris 
against Doctor Barnabas Budd, Samuel Haynes, David 
Reynolds, and Benjamin Cooper, who severally pleaded 
not guilty to the charge. Another individual of the name 
of Ayres, a Justice of the Peace, who had hitherto 
maintained a fair character, was also implicated ; but, as 
his offence was committed in another county, he was 
not indicted with the others. Subsequently, however, 
he confessed his guilt ; but whether he was sentenced 
or pardoned, does not appear. Budd, Haynes, Reynolds, 
and Cooper, were condemned to death ; but Reynolds, 
who had furnished the types, alone was executed. The 
respectability of the connections of the others enabled 
them to bring an influence to bear, which proved power- 
ful enough to procure their pardon. 

Reynolds, before his conviction, had testified that on 
one occasion, when in want of money, Ford [)romised to 
procure it for him ; and at the same time showed him 
a package of bills, which he gave Reynolds to under- 
stand had been obtained by robbing the Treasury. He 
afterwards saw Ford cutting up sheets of bills ; and, as 
the counterfeit bills had been printed separately, this 
circumstance was deemed conclusive evidence that the 
bills in sheets had been obtained surreptitiously, before 
their regular emission. Cooper, in his first confession, 
said nothing of the robbery ; but he afterwards swore 
that Ford had made known to him all the circumstances, 
and acknowledged that he had committed it with the 
assistance of two soldiers from the garrison of Am boy. 

As Governor Franklin had been much censured for 
not taking measures for recovering the sum abstracted 



100 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

from the Treasury, on the ground of his negligence, these 
confessions of Reynolds and Cooper were pressed by 
him on the attention of the Assembly, at its next session, 
as exculpating the Treasurer, and affording a sufficient 
excuse for the lenity extended to him : but without ef- 
fect. The Governor's conduct in relation to the Stamp- 
Act had deprived him of the confidence of the people, 
and produced the election to the Assembly of a majority 
opposed to him. In this affair of the Treasury, the op- 
position members put forth their whole strength against 
him. A committee, to whom the subject had been re- 
ferred, made a Report exculpating Ford, and charging 
the Treasurer himself with the robbery. This Report 
was concurred in by the House ; and a long and angry 
correspondence ensued between the Governor and the 
Assembly as to the proper course to be pursued in order 
to bring the Treasurer to trial. The Governor was sup- 
ported thus far, by the unanimous voice of his Council, 
including Lord Stirling, although, since the Stamp-Act, 
at the head of the political opposition to his administra- 
tion. The dispute ended by the resignation of the 
Treasurer, and the appointment of a successor with au- 
thority to bring a suit to recover the lost money.' 

In this controversy, both parties displayed great per- 
verseness. The Governor was, as usual, violent and 
undignified ; his opponents, disrespectful and unrea- 
sonable ; and it would have been difficult to decide which 
party was most to blame, had not the Governor after- 
wards called the Ex-Treasurer to his Council, in con- 
tempt of the opinions of a large majority of the people. 
The subject was canvassed in the pubhc newspapers 
after it had ceased to be discussed in the Assembly; and 
never, perhaps, did party spirit rage with greater violence 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



01 



under the Colonial Government, or a Provincial Legisla- 
ture exist more decidedly opposed to the immediate repre- 
sentative of the Crown. The opposition on this question 
was eventually merged in the far more serious dispute 
provoked hy those measures of the mother-country which 
led to the overthrow of her authority not merely in New 
Jersey, but in all the Colonies. The robbery of the 
Provincial Treasury, the counterfeiters, and all the cir- 
cumstances which had caused so much agitation, were 
speedily forgotten ; the Ex-Treasurer adhered to the 
Royal cause ; the suit against him was never brought to 
a close ; Ford and his accomplices were no more heard 
of; and, to the last, as much doubt was entertained by 
many, as to the guilt of the several parties accused of 
the robbery, as existed at the time of its discovery.* 

The following letter from one of the accomplices, 
who had been in the employ of Lord Stirling, was ad- 
dressed to him after the writer had been convicted as an 
accessory to the forgeries, and shortly before the day 
fixed for his execution. In this case, it is more probable 
that the interposition of Lord Stirling, in consequence of 
this letter, and the former good character of the convict, 
procured his pardon, than the influence of his family. 

Benjmnin Cooper to the Earl of Stirling. 

" Morristown, N. J., September 7th, 1773. 

" My Lord, — I am here confined and sentenced to 
die for a crime in itself dreadful ; but I had but little to 

* The author is indebted for these is manifest in his " History of East 

particulars to William A. Whitehead, Jersey" — presented by him to the His- 

Esq., of Newark, whose familiar ac- torical Society of the State, and publish- 

quaintance with our Colonial antiquities ed as the first volume of their Collections. 



102 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

do with it. I will give an exact account to jou of all 1 
ever did. 

" In the spring of 1771, at the close of the accounts 
belonging to the Hibernia Company, at jour house, 
Samuel Ford and many others met at Daniel Cooper's, 
in order to settle and sign my letter of license ; at which 
time Ford was to lend two hundred pounds, to be appro- 
priated to the use of the Company. Shortly afterwards, 
he called me to Morristown, where he told me first of 
the villainous scheme of passing bad money. My neces- 
sities, distressed to distraction, led me into it. There 
I received between thirty and forty pounds of what he 
called counterfeit money, which was passed by John 
Kins and Samuel Haines. This was the first. 1 after- 
wards had a further parcel. This I burned, conceiving 
myself wrong. 1 never had any more ; determined and 
resolved I would quit it ; and if I had lived to the year 
2000, should not by any means had any further hand. 
This is all in one week, in the year 1771. Two of the 
Judges, one of which was my father, and one other that 
he can inform you who it was, promised me I should 
never have it mentioned further than as an evidence, if I 
would give a narration of such as was concerned in coun- 
terfeiting and passing, if any I could. On these pro- 
mises I gave the account that the Judge lays before the 
Governor and Council. It was at the bottom I gave it, 
that I had received and passed ; but here you have all — 
the whole. 

" I was indicted, and to this confessed guilty of 
uttering. I then see death, of course. I was also in- 
dicted for aiding ; and the Judge said it was useless to 
plead not guilty. This I did ; however, I knowed nothing 
of the making or any thing belonging to it, excepting 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. ] 03 

the paper. 1 see it going to him. This was all I knowed 
about the whole. This is the substance, as near as I can 
recollect. I have just to beg your Lordship's interest 
and influence with the Governor and Council for me, if 
you can do it consistent with honour, or as far as may 
be. This I would be extremely obliged to you for. 

" Several deeds ought to be made to you by me, 
and many things you are a stranger to, I fear, by which 
you will suffer, that otherwise you would not, had I not 
been called hence. But God's will be done. I am en- 
deavouring to prepare for the world to come. It is my 
chief aim now — I believe it is time — I fear 1 am to de- 
part. I have no one but your Lordship to place the 
least dependence on ; and this only from your natural 
humane, benevolent disposition towards all mankind. 
Here only, I hope for your interest, which if properly 
obtained and applied, no doubt would lengthen my days. 
Many things in the course of my perplexity I could say 
more respecting your interest, as also my present situa- 
tion. Now I pray you only, my good Lord, if you can 
possibly do me any service in this present situation of 
mine. Grant me your aid for God's sake. 

» I am, &c." 

" P. S. I was indicted for aiding Ford, when I left 
you at Hibernia, and went with my family to Hunter- 
don Ford was taken while you was at the works. 
.1 left you on Saturday morning; I returned the Friday 
following. I had reason to think he was in the woods. 
Miss Odie asked me to give her a hat and shirt : I did, 
and it was for Ford. However, I did not know posi- 
tively who it was for, but by suspicion. For this alone 
and all the aid I gave I was indicted, and was advised 



]04 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

by Isaac Ogden to plead guilty. My crimes, for which 
I am condemned, if they were all known, would not 
appear so bad." 

The following correspondence between the late Colo- 
nel Samuel Ogden of Newark, and Lord Stirling, prob- 
ably p-ew out of some interference, on the part of the 
former, in relation to Ford and his accomplices, upon 
which Lord Stirling thought proper to ground a charge 
before the Council, which he afterwards withdrew, for 
some good reason that does not appear, but renewed upon 
being urged by Colonel Ogden to do so. 

Colonel Samuel Ogden to the Earl of Stirling, 

" Burlington, December 3rd, 1773. 

" My Lord, — I am informed that you, some days 
past, exhibited to the Governor and Council now sitting 
at this place, a charge against Samuel Tuthill, Esq., and 
myself, greatly impeaching and reflecting on Mr. Tut- 
hill's and my characters as gentlemen, and magistrates 
in the execution of our offices, by taking several depo- 
sitions partially and unfairly, and by suppressing the 
testimony of witnesses material for bringing certain 
criminals to justice. 

" Your Lordship is not unacquainted with my re- 
peated applications to the Governor and Council to have 
a hearing before them, on the several matters wherewith 
Mr. Tuthill and myself were accused, and they have 
been refused by reason that said charges were not before 
them. From the above state of the matters, I hope you 
will think that the request I now make, viz., that you 
do re-enter on the minutes of the Board that charge 
expunged without Mr. Tuthill's or my consent, is con- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLmG. 105 

sistent with honour and common justice in your Lord- 
ship to grant, and me to ask. Your immediate answer 



will much oblige. 



b' 



"I am, &c." 



The Earl of Stirling to Colonel Samuel Ogden. 

'• Burlington, December 3rd, 1773. 

" Sir, — I received your letter of this day's date while 
I was at dinner at the Governor's, or I would have ac- 
knowledged it immediately by a written message. 

" Upon perusing your letter I find that you request 
that I should re-enter upon the minutes of the Council 
a certain charge against you and Samuel Tuthill, Esq. 
As this is a matter which would counteract a measure 
of the Governor and Council, which they went into for 
reasons to them appearing of public utility, I conceived 
it my duty to lay your letter before them, and to inquire 
of them, whether the same reasons still hold good in 
their opinion ; and as, on consulting them, I find it their 
opinion that the same reasons do hold, I cannot think 
myself at liberty to reinstate the charge. But, Sir, if 
you think any conduct of mine, which, in my station as 
one of the Council of this Province, I conceived it my 
duty to go into, injurious to your character, I am willing 
to join you in any proper measure, consistent with my 
duty to the Board, to do you justice, and fairly to try 
whether any charge I have exhibited against you is 
well founded or not, provided it be done as soon as pos- 
sible, and during the present session of the Legislature. 

" I am under an engagement to set out for Philadel- 
phia to-morrow morning, and intend to return to this 
place on Monday or Tuesday next. 

" I am, &c." 



106 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

Colonel Samuel Ogden to the Earl of Stirling, 

" Burlington, December 4th, 1773. 

" My Lord, — On reading your Lordship's letter in 
answer to mine of yesterday, I find your Lordship re- 
fuses to grant the request made you lest you might 
thereby counteract a measure of the Governor and 
Council, which they went into for reasons to them ap- 
pearing of public utility, and that you had therefore con- 
ceived it your duty to lay my letter before them, and to 
inquire of them, whether the same reasons in their 
opinion still hold good ; and as on consulting them you 
found it their opinion that the same reasons do still hold 
good, you could not feel yourself at liberty to reinstate 
the charge. Your Lordship soon after says that you are 
willing to join me in any measure, consistent with your 
duty to the Board, to do me justice, and fairly to try 
whether the charge exhibited against me was well 
founded or not, provided it be done immediately and 
during the present session of the Legislature. This 
last offer, and its being done immediately, I am not so 
happy as to reconcile with the former part of your letter. 

" I must beg leave to inform your Lordship, that as 
an innocent man, I do consider my reputation and hon- 
our much injured by your exhibiting said complaint 
against me ; and as the same was withdrawn without 
my consent, I cannot help asking of your Lordship a 
copy thereof, and your reasons for withdrawing the same ; 
and whether you did withdraw it upon such terms 
as left any stain on my honour, or imputation of guilt to 
my charge ? I must beg your Lordship will be very 
explicit in answering the above ; and that you will do 
the same as expeditiously as possible, — it being an affair 
of the most delicate nature, and of the greatest impor- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. ] 97 

tance to me, and what alone brought me to this town, 
and hath detained me here for several days past, of which 
your Lordship must be sensible. 

" I am, &c." 

The Same to the Same. 

" Burlington, 11 o'clock Saturday morning. 

"My Lord, — -Your Lordship's answer* to my letter 
of this morning I just now received, but as I am unlucki- 
ly obliged now to attend a Committee of the House 
of Assembly, have it not in my power to answer it. As 
soon as they dismiss me, I will send your Lordship such 
answer in writing as shall become a gentleman and man 
of honour, and hope your Lordship will defer setting out 
for Philadelphia. 

" I am, &c." 

The Earl of Stirling to Colonel Samuel Ogden. 

" Saturday morn, near 12 o'clock. 

" Lord Stirling has already twice informed Colonel 
Ogden that he is engaged to be in Philadelphia to-day ; 
and he does not conceive that any request from Colonel 
Ogden should induce him to break that engagement. 
But if Colonel Ogden conceives the business he has to 
transact with Lord Stirling requires such immediate des- 
patch, he may call on Lord Stirling in Philadelphia, 
where he expects to be for two or three days. 

Colonel Samuel Ogden to the Earl of Stirling. 

"Burlington, Saturday morning. 

" My Lord, — Finding it rather uncertain as to the 
day when you will be in Philadelphia, and being obliged 

* This answer does not appear, but its contents may be surmised from the 
subsequent part of the correspondence. 



108 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

to return to East Jersey without any longer delay, I do 
inform your Lordship, as you are pleased to say you are 
" no Councillor in Philadelphia," I presume the same will 
hold good in New-York, and upon my being informed of 
your Lordship's being there, you may be assured I will 
renew my demand, which I can but think reasonable. 

" I am, &.C." 

The Earl of Stirling to Colonel Samuel Ogden. 

'•Burlington, December 11th, 1773. 

" Lord Stirling was desirous of giving Colonel Ogden 
every reasonable satisfaction in his power, and therefore 
proposed a conference for that purpose on the 4th in- 
stant. But the contemptuous neglect which Colonel 
Ogden has shovi^n to that offer, renders his acceptance of 
it at present impossible. Besides, there are some expres- 
sions in the last letter which Lord Stirling received from 
Colonel Ogden on the 4th instant, which must be fully 
explained, before it can be proper for them to meet on 
business of that nature." 

The following seems to relate to the same subject. 
Elisha Boudinoi, Esq.* to the Earl of Stirling. 

" Newark, 27th January, 1774. 

" My Dear Lord, — I received yours of the 15th 
instant, concerning the report that is prevailing relative 
to the transactions before the Council, &c. I believe 
one of its greatest springs took its rise at the last Morris 
Court ; but, as you cannot be at a loss to find out the 
origin of it there, shall be silent on that head. 

* Afterwards a Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



109 



" A few days after I returned from Morris, I was at 
my brother's* at Elizabethtowii, who was mentioning the 
subject, and much in the same manner it had been re- 
lated at Morris ; and he said he heard Mr. HofTman 
teUingthe story at Mr. Lott's in New- York. This is as 
true and as straight an account as I can get of it. 

" With regard to the appointment of a certain Jus- 
tice, as your Lordship was so polite as to promise me 
your assistance in it, if when you are at Council you 
should not think there was a great probability of carrying 
it through, notwithstanding the opposition of a particular 
gentleman.) I would rather it should not be mentioned, 
as a repulse would be rather mortifying, especially from 
that quarter. I have wrote to Mr. Stockton on the 
subject, and should be glad your Lordship would mention 
it to him when you see him at Burlington. If it could 
be accomplished, it would give me real pleasure, and 
would greatly chagrin some other persons, as a gentleman 
in office, of an independent spirit, does not coincide with 
their views. 

" If any thing that is in my power can at any time 
be of the least service to your Lordship, you may freely 
command me. 

"I am, &c." 

Governor Franklin to the Earl of Stirling. 

" Philadelphia, May 3rd, 1774. 

" My Dear Lord, — Your letter of the 26th of last 
month is just delivered to me at this place, where I am on 
a visit. It gives me great concern to find the aft'air be- 

• Elias Boudinot, who was afterwards House of Ri'jjresentatives under the pres- 

a delegate from Ne^v Jersey, and Presi- ent Federal Constitution — and the first 

dent of Congress under the Confedera- Direcior of the Mint of the United 

lion ; subsequently a member of the first States. 



no THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

tween your Lordship and Colonel Ogden is not jet 
settled. I was in hopes from what I had said to some 
of his friends, and from what had passed between your 
Lordship and me, as well as from some other circum- 
stances, that your differences would have soon after ter- 
minated in a happy accommodation. As that, however, 
is not the case, and your Lordship has thought proper 
to renew the charge against Colonel Ogden, I shall 
take the first opportunity of laying it before the Council. 
" The Chief Justice* and Mr. Stockton will pro- 
bably be at Burlington next week, when I shall be able 
to get a sufficient number to form a Council ; but I do 
not believe they would proceed to hear the merits, even 
if all the parties were present at that time, unless the 
East Jersey members of Council were likewise present. 
The West Jersey members refused, for the like reason, 
to determine at the last meeting any thing respecting 
Colonel Ford's conduct. Judge Ogdenf will of course 
not sit in this business ; and as Colonel Ogden intimates 
that he intends bringing the affair before a Court of 
Judicature, perhaps Mr. Chief Justice and Mr. StocktonJ 
may on that account likewise object to being present at 
any hearing or determination on the subject, before the 
Council. It will therefore be proper that some time 
should be fixed when Mr. Kemble, Mr. Parker, and Mr. 
Skinner^ can attend. Your Lordship may depend upon 
receiving early notice of the determination of the Coun- 
cil in this respect. 

" I am, &c." 

* Frederick Smylh. preceding, but who had not yet taken 

t David Ogden, a Justice of the Su- his seat upon the bench. 

preme Court, N. J. § Peter Kemble, James Parker, and 

t Richard Stockton, appointed a Jus- Stephen Skinner. 

tice of the Supreme Court the February 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. j j j 

" P. S. I am oblio;ed to jour Lordship respecting the 
heads of inquiry sent over by Lord Dartmouth, though 
they came to hand too late, as I sent my answer to them 
about a month ago. Your notes, however, contain some 
particulars which I have not mentioned ; I shall there- 
fore take a copy of them and transmit you the original." 

The controversy between Lord Stirling and Colonel 
Ogden seems to have ended in the following public 
advertisement by the latter. 

" A Pamphlet having been published and handed 
about town last evening, containing a pretended state of 
the dispute between Lord Stirling and Colonel Ogden, 
the Colonel begs of the Publick that they will suspend 
their opinion, until the hearing before the Governor and 
Council is ended, and he shall have opportunity and 
leisure to lay his case fairly before them. The Colonel re- 
marks several misrepresentations to have been inserted 
in the Pamphlet, and he thinks it necessary to assure 
the Publick that the letter or note marked F. in the 
Pamphlet, and dated " Saturday Morn, near 12 o'clock," 
was never received by the Colonel ; but that the mes- 
senger at that time sent to his Lordship's lodgings, re- 
turned with the information to the Colonel that his 
Lordship had left neither letter nor message. 

" Am boy, January 17th, 1775." 



CHAPTER V. 



1774-1776. 



During the interval between the correspondence 
with which the last Chapter closed, and the events 
which led immediately to the Revolution, Lord Stirling 
continued to reside at Baskenridge, engaged in his for- 
mer occupations, to which, of late years, he had added 
the general superintendence of several extensive iron- 
works which he had established, principally in the 
County of Morris. These pursuits were interrupted 
only by occasional visits to New-York, and the perform- 
ance of his public duties as Surveyor-General, and a 
member of the Council of New Jersey. Nothing of a 
public or interesting character appears in what has been 
preserved of his correspondence during this period, until 
the autumn of 1775, when the projects of the British 
Court again threatened a rupture between the mother- 
country and her Colonies. A whig, not merely from 
education, and early political associations, but from the 
convictions of his maturer judgment, Lord Stirling 
opposed, as we have seen, the execution of the Stamp 
Act, and used whatever of influence he possessed in 
England, in procuring its repeal; and he now withstood, 
with similar promptness and decision, the equally un- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 1 1 3 

constitutional expedients adopted as a substitute for that 
odious measure. Though less oppressive in its opera- 
tion than the former attempt, the new project involved 
the same violation of principle, in the assertion of a 
power to tax the colonists without their consent, and 
was met by them in the same indignant spirit of resist- 
ance. When coercion w^as resorted to by Great Britain 
to put down the open opposition in Massachusetts, Lord 
Stirling was among the first in the other Provinces to 
take up arms, in what he deemed the common cause. 
From the military experience he had acquired early in 
life, not less than from his local influence and personal 
popularity, he was chosen to command the first regiment 
of militia, raised by the authority of the Provincial Con- 
gress, in the county in which he resided. On being in- 
formed that he had accepted the appointment. Governor 
Franklin, in summoning Lord Sterling to a meeting of 
the Council, directed his Secretary to inquire whether 
the report he had heard of his acceptance were true. 
To this demand, the following answer was returned. 

The Earl of Stirling to Governor Franklin. 

" Baskenridge, September 14th, 1775. 

" Sir, — I have received a letter from Mr. Pettit, 
dated the 7th instant, informing me that your Excel- 
lency has appointed a Council to be held at Amboy the 
15th instant, and that my attendance is expected. The 
gout, which at present is my constant companion, will 
render it impossible for me to go from home at that time, 
and therefore I hope your Excellency will be able to 
dispense with my attendance. 

" In the same letter, Mr. Pettit informs me that he 
has it in command from your Excellency, to acquaint 

8 



I 14 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

me that it is a matter of public report, that I have ac- 
cepted a Commission from the Provincial Congress of 
New Jersey, appointing me to the command of a regi- 
ment of militia in the County of Somerset, and that 
yom- Excellency requires an answer from me whether 
I ' have, or have not, accepted such commission ?' 

" I must acknowledge. Sir, that the style and man- 
ner in which this inquiry is made, a good deal surprises 
me ; especially as 1 have ever been used to experience 
from your Excellency, the behaviour becoming a gentle- 
man in your exalted station. That you could think of 
commanding your Clerk to correspond with me on so 
delicate a subject, or to catechise me in so peremptory a 
manner, equally astonishes me. However, I will indulge 
your Excellency's curiosity, 

" I have lately been informed that the good people 
of this County have unanimously chosen me Colonel of 
a regiment of militia ; that the Congress of this Prov- 
ince have approved of the choice, and have issued a 
commission accordingly, — which I have received. This 
mark of the confidence of the people among whom 1 re- 
side, is most satisfactory, and, I think, honourable to me. 
To be thus called forth at a time when their dearest 
rights are invaded, to take so prominent a part in their 
defence, cannot but excite the most grateful feelings of 
one who has ever been a friend of the liberties of man- 
kind ; and in accepting this commission, and serving my 
country faithfully, I cannot doubt of your Excellency's 
highest approbation, when I recollect your frequent pub- 
lic, as well as private declarations, that the rights of the 
People, and the prerogatives of the Crown, were equally 
dear to you, — and equally your duty and inclination to 
preserve. 

" I am, &c." 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. II5 

An angry correspondence ensued, which was closed 
by a letter from Lord Stirling, concluding with this sig- 
nificant passage : — " The world is apt to be censorious 
when those who are entrenched in office indulge in of- 
fensive language ; and on this very occasion there may 
be some who will suspect that your letter would not have 
been penned in the style it is, had it been written in any 
other Province than New Jersey.* 

The rebellious Colonel — to use the epithet applied 
to him in one of Governor Franklin's letters — lost no 
time in organizing and disciplining his regiment ; and 
on the 1 8th of October he issued orders for a general 
review and muster to take place on the 6th of Novem- 
ber ; " every man to bring with him the best arms he 
can, and those who have no firelocks are, notwithstand- 
ing, desired to attend, as other arms will be furnished for 
them.'^ This was done at his private expense ; but, be- 
fore the day appointed for the review, Lord Stirling was 
transferred to the command of the first of two regi- 
ments of regular troops, directed by Congress to be 
raised in New Jersey for the continental service, into 
which he was followed by several of the officers and men 
of his militia regiment. 

Upon hearing of this appointment. Lord Stirling re- 
paired to Philadelphia to receive his commission, and 
confer with his friends in Congress. On the 22d of No- 
vember, he proceeded to Burlington to endeavour to pre- 
vail on the Committee of Safety of New Jersey, to take 
proper measures to secure arms for the two regiments, 
and to get barracks prepared for their reception. From 

• Gov. Franklin's appointment was See letters of J. Penn., and P. Livings- 
net acceptable to the people of New Jer- ton, Jun., ante, pp. 67, 69. 
sery, and his conduct in office, less so. 



l\Q THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

thence he visited several other of the principal towns in 
the Province, on the same errand. He had little diffi- 
culty in obtaining more volunteers for his own regular 
regiment among the men who had served under him in 
the militia, and within a week of his leaving Philadelphia 
he had established its head-quarters at Elizabethtown. 

In a letter to the President of Congress written on 
his arrival at that place, he complained of the impedi- 
ments thrown in his way by the local magistrates, in is- 
suing warrants against his men, upon the smallest pre- 
text ; and suggests to Congress the expediency of adopt- 
ing a rule similar to one which had prevailed in the 
Province of New Jersey during the former war, exempt- 
ing every person in the military service from arrest for 
debts less than fifteen pounds. In consequence of his 
representations. Congress subsequently provided a simi- 
lar remedy for this inconvenience. 

Whilst engaged in recruiting at Elizabethtown, he 
availed himself of his position and opportunities to gain 
intelligence in relation to the British ships of war in the 
harbour of New-York, and was thus enabled more effect- 
ually to watch their motions. The following letter to 
the President of Congress, affords evidence of his vigil- 
ance, and contains some hints of the advantages to be 
derived from the measures he had taken. 

Colonel the Earl of Stirling to his Excellency John 

Hancock. 

" Elizabethtown, December 19th, 1775. 

" Sir, — In consequence of the new orders published 
by Captain Parker, of the Phenix, since his arrival at 
New-York, all vessels coming from foreign countries to 
that port, receive on the coast orders from us to come 
into this Province, and, if possible, to this place. Sev- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. j ] -^ 

eral have already arrived at Prince's Bay, and in the 
Sound between this and Amboy. Some of the owners 
of them, being apprehensive that the men-of-war at 
New- York may send their cutters and boats to seize and 
carry them off, have applied to me for protection. The 
saving a vast useful property from falling into the hands 
of our enemies, must be right ; and although I have no 
orders for it, I shall give them every protection in my 
power, until 1 receive orders to the contrary from Con- 
gress. 

" This will, most probably, draw some of the tenders 
and smaller ships of war to the avenues of New-Jersey 
on this side. It will, therefore, be highly necessary to 
have an immediate supply of ammunition at this place ; 
and, if possible, half a dozen lield-pieces, with some 
round, grape, and cannister shot. We might then hope 
to make them quit any station in harbour ; and the sea- 
son of the year will soon make them quit every other 
station. 

" This new order of Captain Parker's is in direct 
violation of an Act of Parliament ; it alarms and rouses 
the moderate, and sorely vexes the Tories of New-York, 
from their being obliged to seek protection here ; and in 
proportion as their property will be lodged among us, 
their j)iilses will beat, and their conduct will be regula- 
ted. If this circumstance be properly managed, I am 
in hopes it will turn out a very fortunate one. 

" It just occurs to me that it may be very proper that 
there be an order of Cono;ress to receive for the conti- 
nental use, all the ammunition imported in the vessels 
that may arrive in this Province, on paying a moderate 
price for it ; some small quantity may be in each ; and 
every little helps. 

" I am, &c." 



llg THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

In pursuance of this suggestion, Lord Stirling was 
directed by Congress, " to seize and secure all the am- 
munition and warlike stores belonging to the enemy, 
which now are, or hereafter may be, imported into the 
Colony of New Jersey, and to keep them until he 
shall receive the orders of Congress respecting them." 

The following letter contains another proof of his 
watchfulness and foresight on the subject mentioned in 
that preceding it. 



Colonel the Earl of Stirling to the President of Congress. 

" Elizabethtown, January 6th, 1776. 

" Sir, — Having particular reasons for believing that 
an express which went through this place about noon 
this day for New- York, was charged with despatches of 
importance for the Ministry of Great Britain, I imme- 
diately despatched the bearer hereof. Captain Morris, of 
my regiment, to overtake the messenger, which he did, 
at the second ferry between this and New- York ; and 
has this moment brought back the messenger, with the 
enclosed two packets directed to the Earl of Dart- 
mouth, which I think it most proper to send you uno- 
pened, in order to be laid before Congress. 

" Captain Morris, who on this occasion has behaved 
with great prudence and alertness, will wait for what- 
ever despatches or commands you may have for me. 

" I have the pleasure to inform you that several 
vessels with valuable cargoes from foreign ports, have 
arrived in this Province ; and, under the protection I 
have afforded them, have landed their cargoes. Among 
the rest, are some hundred barrels of gun powder. 

« 1 am, &c." 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



119 



" P. S. After sealing the above, I found on the 
messenger some private letters to Mrs. Gage, which I 
have forwarded. The handwriting of one of them, I 
knew to be that of a most dangerous man ; and for 
very particular reasons I was induced to open it. I now 
send it to jou." 

Having some reason (derived probably from the 
above mentioned intercepted letter) to suspect that his 
old friend Governor Franklin meditated an escape from 
the Province, he directed Lieutenant Colonel Winds, who 
was stationed at Amboy, to prevent it. A correspond- 
ence thereupon took place between that officer and 
the Governor, which was transmitted by Lord Stirling 
to Congress, with the following. 



Colonel the Earl of Stirling to the President of Congress. 

" Elizabethtown, January 10th, 1776. 

" Sir, — 1 now send you inclosed, copies of some let- 
ters which have passed between Governor Franklin, and 
Lieutenant Colonel Winds. As it is evident from the 
last letter from the Governor, that he intends no longer 
to remain quiet, I thought it most prudent to secure him, 
and remove him to this place. I accordingly sent orders 
to Lieutenant Colonel Winds this morning, for that pur- 
pose. I have provided good, genteel private lodgings 
for the Governor, at Mr. Boudinot's, which I expect he 
will occupy this afternoon, and where I intend he shall 
remain until I have directions from Congress what to do 
with him. 

" I am, &c." 



120 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Lieut. Colonel William Winds to William Franklin, Esq. 

" Barracks at Perth Amboy, January 8th, 1776. 

" Sir, — I have had hints that jou intend to leave 
the Province in case the letters that were intercepted 
should be sent to the continental Congress. As I have 
particular orders concerning the matter, I therefore de- 
sire you will give me jour worc^ and honour that you 
will not depart this Province until I know the will and 
pleasure of the continental Congress concerning the 

matter. 

" 1 am, &c." 

William Franklin, Esq. to Lieut. Colonel Winds. 

" January 8th, 1776. 

" Sir, — Being conscious that my letter which was 
intercepted contained nothing but what it was my duty 
to write as a faithful servant of the Crown, — being a 
mere narrative of such facts and reports as had come to 
my knowledge respecting public transactions, — I have 
not the least intention to quit the Province ; nor shall 1, 
unless compelled by violence. Were 1 to act otherwise, 
it would not be consistent with my declarations to the 
Assembly, at the last session, nor my regard to the good 
people of this Province. 

" I am, &c." 

The Same to the Same. 

" Perth Amboy, January 9th, 1776. 

" Sir, — I observed this morning that armed men 
were placed at my gate, who, from time to time, have 
been relieved by others. On inquiry, I am given to un- 
derstand that they are placed there as sentinels by your 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 121 

orders. This, I scarcely know how to believe, not only 
as I am convinced that jou can have no proper authority 
for it, but as I had before, under my hand, assured you, 
(who are a member of the House of Representatives,) 
that agreeable to my declarations to the Assembly at my 
last session, and I might have added, in compliance with 
their request, — I was determined not to quit the Pro- 
vince unless compelled by violence. Such an assurance 
on my part was certainly equal to any promise I could 
iijake, and ought of course to have weight with those 
who pretend to act on principles of honour. How- 
ever, let the authority, or let the pretence be what it 
may, I do hereby require of you, if these men are sent 
by your orders, that you do immediately remove them 
from hence, as you will answer the contrary at your peril. 

" I am, &:c." 

Lieut. Colonel Winds to William Franklin, Esq. 

" January 9th, 1776. 

" Sir, — As you in a former letter say you wrote 
nothing but what was your duty to do as a faithful offi- 
cer of the Crown, so I say, touching the sentinels placed 
at your gate, I have done nothing but what was my duty 
to do as a faithful officer of the Congress. 

" I am, &c." 

Colonel the Earl of Stirling to the President of Congress. 

" Elizabcthtown, January 11th, 1776. 

" Sir, — In consequence of orders I sent to Lieuten- 
ant Colonel Winds, on the 9th, between the 9th and 10th 
instant he sent two officers attended by a proper guard 
to wait upon Governor Franklin, who at first refused pay- 



122 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

ing any attention to the message which kindly invited him 
to dine with me at this place ; but finding it in vain to act 
that part, he ordered up his coach in order to proceed to 
this place. But Chief Justice Smyth,* thinking it possi- 
ble to put the matter upon an easier footing for the Gov- 
ernor, prevailed on him to give his parole not to depart 
from his house on any pretence whatever, not even if a 
rescue should be offered by Captain Parker,t or any other 
person. I have given the Lieutenant Colonel orders to 
let the Governor remain at his house, on the conditions 
stipulated until I have the orders of Congress to the con- 
trary. 

" I am, Sic." 

The Governor, however, would not remain quiet, but 
afterwards issued a Proclamation for assembling the 
former Provincial Legislature ; upon which the Conven- 
tion of the Province declared his authority at an end ; 
and he was thereupon directed by Congress to be removed 
to Connecticut. There he remained a prisoner until the 
end of the war, when he sailed for England, where he re- 
ceived a pension and continued to reside until his death. J 

Lord Stirling was now entering upon more active 
service ; and the first orders he received from a military 
superior, were from the Commander-in-Chief himself. 

* Frederick Smyih ; the last Chief Bute, was appointed Governor of New 

Justice of New Jersey, under the Colo- Jersey, in 1763 ; from which time he con- 

nial government. tinued in the office until deposed, as above 

t Commander of the British man-of- related. He died in England in 1813, 

War Phenix. at the advanced age of 82. By his first 

\ Governor Franklin was born about wife, a West Indian, he had a son, Wil- 
the year 1731. Pie was a Captain in limn Temple Franklin, who edited his 
the French war, and served at Ticon- grandfather's works, and is accused of 
deroga. After the peace of Paris, he suppressing some highly important mat- 
accompanied his father to England ; and ters. This gentleman resided latterly 
by the recommendation of the Earl of at Paris, where he died in 1823. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 123 

General Washington to Colonel the Earl of Stirling. 

" Cambridge, January 10th, 1776. 

" My Lord, — Having received undoubted intelli- 
gence of the fitting out of a fleet from Boston, and of 
the embarkation of troops from thence, which, from the 
season of the year, and other circumstances, must be 
destined for some expedition south of this ; and having 
such information as I can rely on that the inhabitants of 
Long Island, or a great part of them, are inimical to the 
rights and liberties of America, and, by their conduct 
and professions, have discovered an apparent inclination 
to assist in subjugating their country and fellow-citizens 
to the system of tyranny administration are attempting 
to establish, — there is the greatest reason to apprehend 
that this armament, if not immediately designed against 
New-York, is nevertheless intended for Long Island. — 
Knowing it to be of the last importance to the interest of 
America, to prevent the enemy getting possession of these 
places, and the North River, which would give them the 
command of the country, and a free communication with 
Canada, I have despatched Major General Lee* with or- 
ders to repair to New- York, with such volunteers as he can 
raise on his way, (having no troops to spare from hence,) 
to put the city and the fortifications up the River in the 
best posture of defence the season and situation of af- 
fairs will admit of; and for taking such proper steps 
against such persons on Long Island, and elsewhere, 
whose conduct has rendered them suspected of designs un- 
friendly to the views of Congress. I have directed him to 
apply to you for the troops of New Jersey, under your 

* Charles Lee, an Englishman by birth, and a resident of Virginia. 



124 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

command, in the continental p3y, or such of them as he 
may think necessary for effecting the purposes of his 
going. I beg, and am assured, that you will afford him 
every assistance in your power for facilitating this busi- 
ness, as far as may be consistent (or not repugnant) to 
orders you have received from Congress, with all possible 
expedition. 

" 1 am, &c." 



About this period. Lord Stirling planned and executed 
an enterprise, which at once established his character 
for gallantry, activity, and zeal, and gained for him one 
of the earliest complimentary votes granted by Con- 
gress.* With the regular troops under his command, 
and some volunteers from Elizabethtown, and its neigh- 
bourhood, he embarked on board a pilot-boat and three 
smaller vessels, and, while the Asia man-of-war and her 
tender lay at anchor in the bay of New-York, proceeded 
at night to sea, and, with musketry alone, attacked and 
carried a British armed Transport of three hundred tons 
burthen, mounting six guns, and laden with stores and 
provisions for the enemy at Boston ; and the next day 
succeeded in conducting his prize safely into the port 
of Perth Am boy. 

The following is his official report of the affair to 
Congress. 



* In Congress, January 29th, 1776. ble and exemplary; and that his Lord- 

iZcsoZ«e<i, that the alertness, activity, and ship be directed to secure the capture 

good conduct of Lord Stirling, and the until the further order of Congress ; and 

forwardness and spirit of the gentlemen that, in the mean time, he cause such 

and others from Elizahethtown, who part of the lading as would otherwise 

voluntarily assisted him in taking the perish, to be disposed of by sale. Cong. 

ship Blue-Mountain-Valley, were lauda- Journ. 1776. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. J25 

Colonel thQ Earl of Stirling to the President of Congress. 

" January 21th. 177G. 

" Sir, — On Monday last I received intelligence that 
a Transport laden with stores for the Ministerial army 
at Boston, was hovering off Sandy Hook, in distress, and 
waiting for assistance from the men-of-war at New- 
York. I thought it a matter of so much importance 
that I immediately set out for Amboy, and there seized 
a Pilot-boat, with forty men, that was just putting 
out, and about two, yesterday morning, I was joined 
by three other boats from Elizabethtown, who volun- 
tarily came on this service under Colonel Dayton and 
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas. We found her about six 
leagues South-East of Sandy Hook. We boarded and 
took her without opposition. She proves to be the 
Blue-Mountain-Valley ^ commanded by Captain James 
Hamilton Dempster, laden with coal, provisions, &c. (I 
wish it had been arms and ammunition, as I expected.) 
We are now off Amboy, and intend to push this evening 
into the Sound, between Staten Island and the Main. 
I write now in the hurry and noise incident to such oc- 
casions ; I will write the particulars as soon as possible.* 

" I am, &c." 

* The following are the names of jeants, William Stegins, David Ross, 
the officers and men, belonging to the and Henry Vinker, Privates and citizens, 
militia of Elizabethtown, who volun- SamuelSmith,LewisBlanchard, Edmund 
teered on the occasion : Colonel, Elias Thomas, Thomas Elstone, Ephraim 
Dayton, Z,ieM<. CoZoneZ, Edward Thoni- Marsh, Adam Lee, Thomas Quigley. 
as, Captains, Oliver Spencer and Wil- Henry M. Monagal, Price Parcel, Bnr- 
liam Button, \st Lieutenants, Francis ney Ogden, Timothy B. Stout, Joseph 
Barber* and Aaron Hatfield, 2n(Z i?e;/- Meeker, Jun., George Weeks, Edward 
tenants, Thomas Morrell, Quarter- Bcaty, David Stewart, Daniel Craig. 
Master, George Evertson, Surgeon Thomas Lee, Stephen Wheeler, Far- 
William Bamet, Commanders uf Boats, rington Price, Elijah WoodrufT, .lona- 
Smith Hatfield and John Thomas, Ser- than Woodruff, Aaron Ogden,* Edward 



126 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

The following relates to the disposition made of the 
Blue-Mountain-Valley, and her cargo, and to- other mat- 
ters to which the writer draws the attention of Congress : 

Colonel the Earl of Stirling to the President of Congress. 

" Elizabethtown, February 2nd, 1776. 

" Sir, — The cargo of the ship Blue-Mountain-Val- 
ley is now chiefly unladen, and brought up to this town, 
except the coal, which it will be best to take out as it is 
disposed of. 

" I have as yet received no orders from Congress 
relative to this ship, nor any answer to the three letters 
relating to her, since her capture, and of which it was 
impossible for me to keep copies. Captain Dempster 
is very desirous of returning to England. Two of his 
mates, and his foremast-men, would be glad of working 
their passage home, or through the West Indies. It will 
perhaps be best to send them to Philadelphia for that 
purpose, in preference to any of the ports to the East- 
ward. 

" I am told that Congress has established some rules 
with regard to prizes ; and also, some Admiralty juris- 

Jones, William Clark, Jonathan Clark, Connel, Godfrey Blackney, Timothy 

Jonathan Nichols, Samuel Mann, Silas Burns, Simon Simonson, Richard Miller, 

Freeman, William Meeker, Samuel Og- and John Miller, 2nd. Those marked 

den, Gabriel Meeker, Jonathan Pierson, with an asterisk were afterwards aids of 

Elihu Parsons, Robert Spencer, Daniel Lord Stirling, and subsequently rose to 

Macarty, William Ramsden, Samuel greater eminence. Francis Barber, in 

Sealey, Samuel Lee, Thomas Hoyt, a few years attained the command of a 

Lewis Woodruff, Isaiah Gray, William regiment, and distinguished himself on 

Livingston, Jr., Brockholst Livingston,* several occasions during the war. 

John Hendrix, Samuel Morehouse, Aaron Ogden became Governor of the 

Jacob Carle, Benjamin Woodruff, Dan- State ; Brockholst Livingston, a Judge 

iel Woodruff, Benjamin Hinds, John successively of the Supreme Court of 

Gray, James Cienchy, John Miller, New-York and of the United States. 
John Runyon, Nicholas Deane, Moses 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. J07 

diction ; but, as I have not seen them, I cannot tell 
whether this ship is comprehended within them, and 
shall be glad to be instructed in regard to that point. 

" I now enclose a copy of the orders I gave to Cap- 
tain Rogers, when 1 put the ship into his charge. 
This Captain Rogers was well recommended to me by 
the New-York Committee of Safety. He is, I believe, 
as fit a man as any to command a ship of force ; or, if 
it should be thought proper to keep three or four small 
sloops, to run in and out of Sandy Hook, and the inlets 
of Egg Harbour, Barnegat, &c., I believe he would be 
a very proper person to command them. 

" Some attempts have been made in this Province to 
break through the prohibition ordered by Congress to 
the shipping of lumber and provisions. 1 have taken 
every step in my power to prevent it ; and have laid 
the whole proceedings before the Convention of this 
Province, which is now sitting at Brunswick. Enclosed 
is a copy of my letter to them on the subject, as also a 
copy of my letter to them on the subject of arms, and 
I hope they will come into the measure I have recom- 
mended to them. 

" I now enclose copies of the orders sent to Colonel 
Maxwell with regard to preparing his regiment for 
marching to Albany, and his answer thereto. These 
would have been transmitted sooner to you, but my ab- 
sence a few days from this place, on the little naval ex- 
cursion, and my illness in consequence of it for a day or 
two more, has thrown me behindhand in my correspond- 
ence ; which, I find, swells to such a size that it will 
be impossible for me to get through it, with any regu- 
larity, without the help of one or two good clerks. 

*' I just hear that seven hundred men from New 



125 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

England, arrived in New-York this afternoon ; and that 
General Lee is at Kingsbridge with a like number. 

" I am, &c." 

While Lord Stirling was thus engaged in organizing 
and disciplining his regiment, and availing himself of 
every opportunity of rendering service to the cause in 
which he had so ardently embarked, he received orders 
to repair to New-York. Upon his arrival at that post, 
he was enabled to communicate the thanks of Congress 
to the inhabitants of Elizabethtown, for their aid in the 
capture of the British transport, in the following letter 
to the Chairman of the Committee of Safety of that 
borough ; and he took the opportunity to add his own 
acknowledgments for the co-operation and kindness he 
had personally received from them on all occasions while 
quartered there. 

Colonel the Earl of Stirling to Robert Ogden, Esq. 

"New-York, February 9th, 1776. 

" Sir, — It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction to 
have it in my power to transmit to you a Resolve of the 
Continental Congress, which does so much justice to the 
gentlemen of Elizabethtown, who assisted me in taking 
the ship Blue-Mountain-Valley, and consequently, to 
the Committee of that town, who encouraged and 
directed that reinforcement. The Resolve,* of which 
the enclosed is a copy, I received this evening. 

" I now send orders to Mr. Blanchard, conformable 
to the directions I have received from Congress, which 
I have not the least doubt will be faithfully carried into 

* See Resolution, ante, p. 124, Note. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



129 



execution. I now send to Brigadier General Living- 
ston,* a copy of some further directions I have received 
from the Congress, which he will communicate to you, 
and which, I doubt not, your Committee will give him 
their best assistance, if necessary, to carry into punctual 
execution. 

" I take this opportunity of requesting you, Sir, to 
give my best thanks to the Committee of Elizabeth- 
town, for their readiness at all times to assist me in 
carrying on the service under my direction, while I was 
at that place ; and to the inhabitants in general, for the 
many instances of confidence and friendship I have 
received from them. 

" I am, &c." 

The Same to the President of Congress. 

" New-York, February 19th, 1776. 

" Sir, — On the 4th instant, I informed you of my 
having received General Lee's orders to march with my 
regiment to this place. I accordingly marched the next 
morning, with four companies, from Elizabethtown, and 
arrived here the next day, as soon as the ice permitted 
us to cross Hudson's River. The other four companies 
followed the next day. 

" Your most agreeable letter of the 2nd instant, I 
received on the 9th, enclosing the Resolve of Congress 
of the 29th of January, which gave me more pleasure 
and satisfaction than any incident I ever met with. 

" I now send you inclosed, copies of the measures I 
immediately took to carry into execution the orders of 

* William Livingston, afterwards this time a Brigadier General of Militia, 
Governor of New Jersey. He was the and as such succeeded to the command at 
orother-in-law of Lord Stirling, and at Elizabethtown. 

9 



130 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Conejress relative to the ship Blue-Mountain-Valley, 
and Mr. Blanchard's letter to me in answ^er to the one I 
wrote him, by which Congress will see the present situa- 
tion of that ship. I wish you would give full instruc- 
tions to John De Hart, Esq. and Mr. John Blanchard, 
what to do with her and her cargo, as my situation will 
prevent my paying any attention to her. 

" When I arrived at this place, I expected to have 
found a continental Commissary of provisions who would 
have provided my regiment with rations; but there 
being no such officer here, with General Lee's approba- 
tion, I have directed my Quarter-Master to furnish my 
regiment with provisions, as nearly as possible, agree- 
able to the ration fixed by Congress, and to do it with 
all the economy possible. He has hitherto purchased 
provisions with his own money, and such as he could 
borrow ; but as that source must soon fail, I must beg 
that Congress will, as soon as possible, give the neces- 
sary directions relative to this point. I have wrote 
Colonel Lowrey on this head, and have informed him of 
our situation, that he may take the necessary steps to 
relieve us, in case he is empowered by Congress. 

" I am, &c." 

On the 1st of March, Lord Stirling was promoted 
by Congress to be a Brigadier General, and which was 
officially announced to him, as follows : — 

The President of Congress to Brigadier General the 
Earl of Stirling. 

" Philadelphia, March 1st, 1776. 

" My Lord, — I do myself the honour of enclosing to 
you a commission of Brigadier General in the Conti- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



131 



nental army. From the high opinion the Congress en- 
tertain of your zeal and attachment to the American 
cause, they ihitter themselves you will do every thing in 
your power to discharge your duty to your country on 
this important occasion. 1 have it in charge from Con- 
gress to direct that you will continue at New- York, 
until further orders. 

" I am, &c." 

The intelligence was also conveyed to him in a pri- 
vate letter from a friend in Congress, containing more 
particulars in regard to his command and to other mili- 
tary arrangements. 

James Diiane* to B. G. the Earl of Slirli7ig. 

" Philadelphia, March 1st, 1776. 

" My Dear Lord, — I am afraid you will suspect I 
have been unmindful of your request when last here, 
and of your mterest ; but I beg you will be assured that 
inattention to my friends is one of the vices of which I 
feel myself incapable. 

" The first opportunity I have embraced to solicit 
your promotion, in which 1 was so happy as to be sup- 
ported by my friends. Your Lordship is accordingly 
appointed a Brigadier General for the Middle department^ 
comprehending New- York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, 
the Lower Counties, and Maryland ; the Colonies to the 
southward, the four Eastern Provinces, and Canada, 
form the other three departments. 

" It is now determined that General Lee shall com- 
mand in the Southern department, where an immediate 
attack is expected. The debates of this day did him 
singular honour, and evince the confidence Congress have 

* See ante p. 8, Note. 



J 32 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

in his zeal and abilities. He was given up to the 
Southern Colonies, as most exposed, with great reluc- 
tance. General Schuyler, with Brigadier General 
Thompson and yourself are destined for the Middle de-. 
partment. The Commander-in-Chief for Canada re- 
mains to be filled up, and is the subject of some per- 
plexity as well as of very great importance. It was the 
anxious wish and earnest advice of our much lamented 
friend' Montgomery, that he should be succeeded by 
General Lee ; but the situation of our affairs prevented 
it. General Schuyler's very precarious state of health, 
and the danger to which his native Province is exposed, 
will, we suppose, make the disposition respecting him 
very agreeable. Present my respectful compliments to 
him and General Lee. 

" I am, (fee." 

B. G. the Earl of Stirling to the President of Congress, 

" New- York, March 3rd, 1776. 

" Dear Sir, — I have this evening the honour of re- 
ceiving your letter of the 1st instant, enclosing a Com- 
mission to me of Brigadier General in the Continental 
army. 

" This instance of the good opinion which the Con- 
gress entertain of my zeal and attachment to the Ameri- 
can cause, does me high honour, and I receive it from my 
country with that gratitude and satisfaction which will 
excite me to do every thing in my power to deserve it. 
I wish I had more knowledge and experience, and was 
better qualified to execute the arduous task, I am now 
appointed to ; but the Congress may rest assured that in 
every situation, I will endeavour to do the best I can, 
and execute their commands so far as it is possible. 

" I am, &c." 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 



133 



The Chairman of the Elizabethtovvn Committee, 
was the first to congratulate him upon his promotion. 

Robert Ogden, Esq., to B. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Elizabethtovvn, March 4th, 1776. 

" My Lord, — I heartily congratulate jou on your 
appointment to be a Brigadier General. It will give 
every friend to his country g^eat pleasure to see that 
posts of so much importance are filled by gentlemen of 
the first abilities, and so strongly attached to the common 
cause. I sincerely wish all officers, from the highest to 
the lowest, may be advanced according to their abilities, 
merit, and valour, and none but such be employed in the 
service. 

"lam, &c." 

After the departure of General Lee, the chief com- 
mand at New-York devolved on Lord Stirling, con- 
cerning whose fitness for the station, that veteran and 
accomplished officer had declared to the President of 
Congress, in his letter announcing the change, that he 
was " in very little pain about the execution of what 
they had concerted, as it was committed to the hands of 
Lord Stirling, who showed much intelligence and ac- 
tivity;" — and again, in his letter to the Commander-in- 
Chief, he says, " Lord Stirling will take the command 
until the arrival of Schuyler. His Lordship is active and 
discreet, and will acquit himself well."* How far these 
favourable opinions were confirmed, will now be seen 

Upon assuming the command at New- York, Lord 
Stirling's attention was immediately directed to cutting 
off the communication between the inhabitants of Staten 

* See the letters in the American Archives, 4th Series, Vol. V. pp. 50 and 74. 



134 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

and Long Islands, and the ships of war of the enemy in 
the adjoining waters ; — in calling in the remaining 
force from New Jersey ; — and in preparing for the re- 
ception of the troops from Massachusetts. To insure 
the first of these objects, he requested the President of 
the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, to order four hun- 
dred minute-men to be stationed near the watering place 
at Staten Island, who, besides effecting that particular 
object, might keep a constant and vigilant look-out to- 
wards the sea, and give information of the arrival of 
vessels, and of the movements of the ships of war in the 
harbour. To this corps, he recommended that a few 
light cavalry should be added, to bring intelligence to 
New-York ; while another party should be stationed be- 
tween Sandy Hook and the mouth of the Raritan, with 
a detachment on the highlands of Navesink, to protect 
the country from surprise. 

Receiving intelligence that the whole, or the greater 
part of the British army had embarked at Boston, and 
was probably on its way to New-York, he requested the 
Provincial Congress of New Jersey to order the third 
battalion raised for the continental service to be marched 
to that city. He expressed to them also his opinion that 
they should remain in session, or appoint a Committee of 
Safety to sit daily in their stead. In anticipation of the 
arrival of the American army, he took immediate measures 
for raising a corps of artificers, consisting of carpenters, 
shipbuilders, wheelwrights, and blacksmiths, to the num- 
ber of one hundred men, and entered into large con- 
tracts for the supply of clothing for the troops expected 
from Cambridge. The following letter to the officer in 
command on Long Island, shows what extreme measures 
the exigency of that critical period seemed to require. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. I35 

B. G. the Earl of Stirling to Colonel Ward. 

" Head-Q,uarters, New-York, March 8th, 1776. ' 

" Dear Sir, — I write this letter to you in the utmost 
confidence of secrecy, and therefore, no man but your- 
self is to see it. It is absolutely necessary to prevent 
the communication between the ship Phenix, which lies 
off the west end of Long Island, below the Narrows, 
and the people of that part of Long Island ; but more 
especially to take or destroy a certain Frank James, a 
pilot who now assists Captain Parker, who commands 
the Phenix, in decoying and taking vessels of great 
importance to the cause we are now engaged in. There 
are some other pilots serving Captain P. in the same 
way, whose names I am not informed of, but they are 
well known to Mr. Christopher Duyckiiick, who with 
three or four other guides will attend you for the purposes 
hereinafter mentioned. 

" You will pick out of your regiment two of the most 
alert officers, with two parties of about twenty men each, 
to be supplied with twenty rounds of ammunition and 
three days' provisions ready dressed, who, with these 
guides are to proceed to the places they will show them, — 
conceal themselves as much as possible from the people 
of the country, — take such stations as are most proper 
for securing or destroying such pilots, or any persons be- 
lon^inir to the man-of-war. It will be best that the 
two parties march from your quarters to-morrow evening, 
a little before moon-rising, so that the men may arrive at 
their stations before day-light ; and it will be absolutely 
necessary that the officer of each party consult with, and 
put the utmost confidence in the guides assigned to them. 
When the parties have taken their stations, they should, 



136 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

if possible, without firing, or by any means alarming the 
man-of-war, or the country, prevent any boats from leav- 
ing the shore ; and the shortest way to effect this, will 
be for single men, about day-light, to examine the shore, 
and with their hatchets cut a hole or two in the bottoms 
of all the small boats they find there, and to remove to 
some secret place the oars, paddles, or sails. 

" You will see the necessity of this matter being 
conducted with secrecy and alertness ; and I doubt not 
you will choose your men accordingly. 

" I am, &c." 

From the following it appears that Lord Stirling was 
among the first to discern the merit of the late General 
Hamilton, and would have appointed him his Brigade 
Major, had not the future hero and statesman preferred, 
at that time, the command of a company of artillery in 
the line of the army. 

Elisha Boudinot, Esq., to B. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

Newark, March 10th, 1776. 

" My Lord, — On my brother's return from New- 
York, he informed me that Mr. Hamilton had already 
accepted the command of Artillery, and was therefore 
deprived of the pleasure of attending your Lordship's 
person as Brigade Major. The bearer. Captain Harry 
G. Livingston, is very desirous of offering you his ser- 
vices in that capacity, but his modesty would not suffer 
him to do it personally. He therefore begged me to 
write this. As he is a young gentleman of character, 
spirit, and fortune, I thought few could be found fitter for 
that place. I have therefore taken the liberty of men- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. J 37 

tioninghim to your Lordship, if you should not be already 

provided. 

" I am, &c." 

The official correspondence of Lord Stirling with his 
military superiors, after taking the command at New- 
York, commenced with the following letter to one of the 
oldest and most intimate of his private friends. 

B G the Earl of Stirling to Major General Philip 

Schuyler. 

" New-York, March 10th, 1776. 

" My Dear General, — General Lee communica- 
ted to me your letter of the 29th of February ; since the 
date of which. Congress have made a new arrangement 
of the commands in America, of which you will doubtless 
be informed before this reaches you. However, lest by 
any accident that should not be the case, 1 shall just re- 
capitulate what our friend Duane writes me on the sub- 
ject. 

" General Lee is to command in the Southern de- 
partment, comprehending Virginia, the Carolinas, and 
Georgia. The Middle department, comprehending New- 
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Lower Counties, 
and Maryland, is under your command, with Thompson* 
and myself as Brigadiers. The New England Colonies 
compose the Eastern department, and Canada, the 
Northern — who was to command in the latter, was not 
yet determined.! 

* William Thompson, of Pennsylva- witli reputation at Roxbiiry, and of 

nia, afterwards a Major General. whose military capacity a very favoura- 

t John Thomas, lately appointed a ble opinion had been formed, was ap- 

Major General, who had commanded pointed to this very important command. 



138 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

" In consequence of this arrangement, General Lee 
set out from this place, on Thursday evening, for Phila- 
delphia, and has left me in a situation not a little per- 
plexing, especially to a young beginner, as I may call 
myself after twenty years' retirement. It will require at 
least eight thousand men, to put this place and Long 
Island in any posture of defence, by the month of May. 
We have not above eighteen hundred : of these, one 
thousand Connecticut troops will leave us on the 25th 
of this month. Of the remainder, three hundred are 
minute-men ; so that we shall be reduced to about five 
hundred. I have indeed ordered Colonel Dayton to 
get the third battalion of Jersey troops in readiness to 
march as soon as possible ; but before I order him to 
march to this place, I must wait to know his destination 
from yourself or Congress. I know not the state of the 
battalions raising in this Province ; but I believe they are 
backward in their recruiting, — especially those in this 
quarter. Their field-officers are not yet appointed. I 
most sincerely wish you were here, for when General 
Thompson arrives, he will be equally at a loss what to 
do. Until we have your particular orders, however, as 
I know General Lee's ideas about the fortifying of this 
place, I shall pursue his plan as far as possible, until I 
receive further orders. 

" A copy of your letter to General Lee is sent to 
the Convention of this Province, in order that they may 
co-operate with you in the preparation of the campaign 
in Canada. It is high time that the General who is to 
command in that department was on his way to it. 

" By General Lee's directions, I have engaged in 
New Jersey, two companies of carpenters, each consist- 
ing of one Captain, one Lieutenant, and twenty-five 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. I39 

men, designed for Canada ; but, as I observe, you have 
fifty ready to go at a moment's warning, I shall retain 
them until further orders. They can, in the mean time, 
be well employed at this place, in building platforms 
and barriers. 

"March 11th. Last night, three gentlemen landed 
here from on board a packet from England. The advi- 
ces they bring are that seven regiments of foot, amount- 
ing to about four thousand men, were to sail from Cork, 
about the 6th of January, bound to the Southern Colo- 
nies ; that Great Britain had engaged four thousand 
Hanoverians, and six thousand Hessians for the Ameri- 
can war, and was in treaty for ten thousand Prussians ; 
that the French Ambassador had declared to the Eng- 
lish Ministry, that while the quarrel between Great 
Britain and her Colonies was carried on by their own 
force, the King, his master, would not meddle with it, 
but if any foreign power was introduced, he would no 
longer be an idle spectator. They had not heard in 
England that the French had any troops in the West 
India Islands. I think this looks well for us. • 

" I am, &c." 

From a return which Lord Stirling directed to be 
made to him, it appears that the effective force, at this 
time under his command, amounted to about two thou- 
sand men, consisting of the following corps, viz. : his 
own regiment, with Waterbury's, Drake's, Swartwout's, 
and Van Ness's, with Hamilton's Artillery, and Led- 
yard's company of volunteers, in New-York, and Ward's 
regiment upon Long Island. 

On the 13th, he received intelligence from General 
Washington, that the King's army at Boston had actu- 



140 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

ally embarked, and that there was the greatest reason 
to believe that its destination was New- York. He 
called, therefore, upon the Committees of six of the 
adjoining Counties in New Jersey, to assemble their 
militia, and select three or four hundred of the best 
men from each regiment, and send them to New- York, 
to assist in its fortification and defence. This requisi- 
tion, however, was not generally complied with ; but, 
in several instances, was objected to on the ground that 
the Committees had no power to send the Militia out 
of the Province, and, that if they had, it would be inex- 
pedient to do so, inasmuch as the arming of the two 
battalions in the Continental service, had drained the 
Province of its best arms, and the detachment now re- 
quired, would leave it defenceless, and exposed to con- 
tinual incursions from the British in New-York. The 
Committee of Newark, however, sent one hundred and 
fifty men ; that of Elizabethtown followed the example, 
and the remote County of Morris, where Lord Stirling 
had much personal influence, was induced by the follow- 
ing letter, to send three hundred. 

B. G. the Earl of Stirling to Alexander Carmichael, Esq. 

"New- York, March 17th, 1776. 

" Sir, — I have your letter of yesterday's date. Give 
me leave to assure you, that by appointment of the Con- 
tinental Congress, the District of the commanding 
General here extends to the Province of New Jersey, 
and that I have it in command from Congress to call 
in so many of the Militia of the neighbouring Provinces, 
as I find necessary for fortifying and defending this 
place, and its environs ; and to assure them that they 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



141 



shall receive the same pay and provisions with the Con- 
tinental troops employed in the Middle department, to 
commence from the time they actually begin their 
march for this place. As to the fears of the people about 
Amboy, Congress will take care of it ; and as to the 
men out on furloughs, they are all ordered to their regi- 
ments. I hope, therefore, there will no longer be any 
objections to the three hundred men required from Mor- 
ris County. 

" I am, &c." 

A similar requisition was made upon the Governor 
of Connecticut, which had, in part, been anticipated by 
the zeal of that sturdy patriot and his Council. 

B. G. the Earl of Stirling to Governor Trumbull. 

" New- York, March 17th, 1776. 

" Sir, — You have doubtless received the intelligence 
I have from General Washington, relative to the motions 
of the ministerial troops from Boston, and the situation 
of our troops which surround it. That General Howe 
intends to move this way with his army, I think highly 
probable. Many little manoeuvres of Governor Tryon,* 
and the men-of-war in this harbour, seem to confirm it. 
I am taking every step in my power to be prepared for 
their reception, by fortifying every advantageous spot 
near this city, and on Long Island. But whatever may 
be the designs of General Howe, it appears from all the 
intelligence received, that the Ministry are determined 
to make an effort to gain possession of this city ; and I 

* The last Colonial Governor of New- York, who had taken refuge on board of 
the Asia, 64. 



142 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

have, therefore, the orders of Congress, hy all possible 
means, to provide for its safety. 

" I have also their direction to apply to the neigh- 
bouring Colonies for such parts of their Militia or Pro- 
vincial troops, as may be necessary until the Continental 
troops, destined for this service, arrive here. The two 
regiments from Connecticut now here, and on Long 
Island, deserve the thanks of the public, for their good 
order, industry, and alertness ; and I sincerely wish they 
could be prevailed on to stay while their services are 
necessary, (as it would save time and pay to an im- 
mense amount,) in the Continental service. But I 
understand many of them are farmers of property, hav- 
ing families at home, and wish to be there to mark out 
the work of their farms for the ensuing season. How- 
ever, I will, with the Colonels Waterbury and Ward, 
endeavour to prevail upon as many of them as possible, 
to stay until they are relieved by others from your Col- 
ony. In the mean time I think it highly necessary, and 
1 have no doubt your Excellency will carry it into execu- 
tion, that recruits be raised to complete these two regi- 
ments to at least six hundred privates each ; and that 
another regiment of like strength be raised in your Col- 
ony, if possible, on condition of serving the campaign, 
or as long as the service requires ; and to be armed, 
accoutred, and clothed, as well as time will permit. 

" I am, &c." 

The intelligence from General Washington, above re- 
ferred to, was contained in the following letter, addressed 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 1^3 

To the Commanding Officer at New-York. 

'• Cambridge, Marcli 14th, 1776. 

" Sir, — I have strong reasons since I wrote to jou 
last, to confirm me in my opinion, that the army under 
General Howe is on its departure. All their movements 
indicate it ; but lest it be a feint, 1 must continue on my 
guard, and not weaken my lines too much, until 1 have 
a certainty of their departure. It is given out that they 
are hound to Halifax; but I am of opinion, that New- 
York is their place of destination. It is an object 
worthy of their attention, and it is the place that we 
must use every endeavour to keep from them : for should 
they get that town, and the command of the North 
River, they can stop the intercourse between the North- 
ern and Southern Colonies, upon which depends the 
safety of America. 

" My feelings upon this subject are so strong that I 
would not wish to give the enemy a chance of succeed- 
ing at your place. I shall therefore despatch a regiment, 
and some independent companies of riflemen, this day ; 
and to-morrow, or as soon as can conveniently be done, 
five more regiments will set out from this camp. I can- 
not part with more while the enemy remain in sight ; but 
I have WTitten to Governor Trumbull, to send you two 
thousand men, as soon as he possibly can. If you can 
get one thousand from New Jersey, with the Militia of 
the country called in, if not repugnant to the will of 
Congress, I think you can make a sufficient stand, until 
I can, with the main body of this army, join you ; which, 
you may depend, will be as soon as possible, after I can 
with any degree of certainty tell their route. 

" The plan of defence formed by General Lee is, 



J44 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

from what little I know of the place, a very judicious 
one. I hope, nay, I dare say, it is carrying into execu- 
tion with spirit and industry. You may judge from the 
enemy's keeping so long possession of the town of Bos- 
ton against an army superior in numbers, how much 
easier it is to keep an enemy from forming a lodgment 
in a place, than it will be to dispossess them, when they 
get themselves fortified. As I have in my last told you, 
that the fate of this campaign, of course the fate of 
America, depends upon you, and the army under your 
command, should the enemy attempt your quarter, — I 
will dwell no more thereon, though the vast importance 
of the subject would make an apology for repetition 
needless. 

" I am, &c." 

To this letter Lord Stirling, by whom it was re- 
ceived, returned the following answer. 

B. G. the Earl of Stirling to General Washington. 

" New- York, March 20th, 1776. 

" Dear General, — In consequence of General 
Lee's departure on the 7th instant, I have had the 
honour to receive your letter of the 14th, directed to the 
commanding officer at this place. 

" I am happy to find that the aid 1 called in from 
New Jersey and Connecticut exactly concurs with your 
sentiments. The two regiments from Connecticut now 
here, consisting of about five hundred rank and file each, 
are impatient to go home, as many of them are farmers, 
and want to lay out their summer's work. The time of 
their engagement with General Lee ends next Monday. 
I have used my best endeavours to prevail upon them to 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 1^5 

Stay till their places are supplied from that quarter, but 
it is still doubtful whether they will consent to it. Of 
this I have apprized Governor Trumbull, and have re- 
quested him to make up the whole two thousand from 
that Colony. From New Jersey I have requested one 
thousand men : about two hundred of them are come in. 
About one thousand are ordered from the northern coun- 
ties of this province : none of them is yet arrived. 

" We have now at this place and on Long Island, 
about two thousand five hundred men, including the 
above two Connecticut regiments. The militia in town 
amount to about as many more. Nearly one-half of the 
whole are on fatigue every day, carrying into execution 
the plan of defence formed by General Lee. They go 
on with great spirit and industry. The Congress have 
ordered eight thousand men for the defence of this city 
and province. The corps to make up this number are 
four regiments from Pennsylvania, one from New Jersey, 
and four from this province ; none of which is yet 
arrived, and most of them are incomplete, and unfit to 
march, especially those of this province ; of whom not 
above two hundred are yet in town ; and some of them, 
1 find, arc to be employed on Hudson's River, and in 
the northern parts of the province. 

" I am, &c." 

" P. S. Brigadier General Thompson is arrived here 
this day, and of course takes the command ; my utmost 
industry will be exerted to assist him in it." 

To give greater efficacy to his defensive operations, 
the following " Rforulations " were agreed to between 
Lord Stirling, and a Committee of the Provincial Con- 
gress of New-York ; viz. : 

10 



146 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

" 1. That all the inhabitants capable of fatigue duty, 
be immediately employed on the fortifications of this 
City, as well as the negro-men in the City and County 
of New- York. 

" 2. To this end, that the commanding officer of 
each corps draw out his corps, and parade at the Com- 
mon at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning, without arms, 
but with as many intrenching tools as they are possessed 
of; and that they take care to have all the negro-men 
in their respective districts turned out and provided in 
the same manner. 

"3. Lord Stirling having informed the Committee 
of the arrival of a quantity of powder in this City, and 
that another quantity is soon expected, the whole direct- 
ed by the Continental Congress for the service of the 
army at Cambridge, it is agreed that the forwarding of 
the said powder shall be deferred until the further order 
of the Continental Congress ; and that an express be 
immediately despatched by Lord Stirling on the subject. 

" 4. It is agreed that it be recommended by the 
Provincial Congress to issue an order to the General 
Committee of New- York, to make immediate report of 
all the provisions and iron in town ; and to prevent the 
exportation of either until further orders. 

" 5. That the Provincial Congress immediately au- 
thorize Dr. John Jones, and Dr. Treat, to purchase all 
the hospital medical stores and apparatus which they 
may think necessary ; and make report of their doings 
without delay ; and possess themselves of the hospital 
stores in possession of Mr. Commissary Curtenius. 

" 6. That the Provincial Congress issue immediate 
orders to the Committee of King's County, to order the 
inhabitants of that County to give assistance in fatigue to 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. I47 

Colonel Ward, by turning out for the service one half of 
their male inhabitants, negroes included, every day, to 
work at the fortifications in that County ; and to take 
with them their spades, pickaxes and hoes, and begin to 
work on Friday next. 

"7. That a guard of six of the, troop of horse of said 
County, under such person as shall from time to time be 
appointed by the Provincial Congress, shall be constantly 
posted at some convenient height near the west end of 
Nassau, or Long Island, to reconnoitre the entrance of 
any enemy into Sandy Hook, or appearing on the coast, 
and to give immediate intelligence to the Congress, or 
commanding ofticer of the continental troops at this 
place, as occasion may require. 

" 8. That the Provincial Congress issue an order, 
to the Committee of Cow-neck and Great-neck, for a 
like number of horsemen from Queen's County, to keep 
a look-out at Thomas Cornwall's, at Rockaway, for the 
same purpose. 

" 9. That orders issue to the Colonels of the regi- 
ments in Orange, on the south side of the mountains, to 
draft one hundred men to be sent immediately to this 
City, armed and accoutred in the best manner possible. 

" 10. That the like orders issue to the Colonels of 
Westchester and Duchess, for two hundred men each, 
for like purposes." 

This course of preparation was pursued by Lord 
Stirling until he was supei'seded in the command by his 
senior officer Brigadier General Thompson ; about which 
time he received the following from the General com- 
manding the department. 



148 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Major General Schuyler to B. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

"Albany, March 16th, 1776. 

" My Dear Lord, — Hudson's River is now clear of 
ice, and that in the Lakes has become impassable for the 
passage of troops. I am therefore under the necessity 
of detaining them here, until the Lakes can be passed by 
water. Batteaus, and every thing is prepared to convey 
the troops and stores. 

" Be so good as to let me have a return of the troops 
under your command, that I may be able properly to 
dispose of the regiment raising in this quarter. Eight 
tons of powder arrived yesterday from Philadelphia. — 
The cannon and shot from New-York are not yet come 
up. The moment the troops, cannon, and powder, are 
embarked at Lake George, I propose joining you. My 
health is much re-established, and I have great hopes 1 
shall not soon experience a relapse.* 

" I am, &c." 

On the day previous to General Thompson's arrival 
Lord Stirling made the following Report to Congress. 

B. G. the Earl of Stirling to the President of Congress. 

« New- York, March 19th, 1776. 

" Dear Sir, — I have this evening, by express, re- 
ceived the two enclosed letters from General Washing- 
ton. I have communicated the contents of them to the 
Committee of Safety of this Province, and shall meet 
them to-morrow morning, to consult on such measures as 
necessarily arise from this intelligence. The Congress 

* General Schuyler was at this time, subject to frequent and severe attacks of 
and during the remainder of his life, gout. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. I49 

may be assured that every step will be taken to prepare 
this place for the reception of the enemy. The work is 
great ; not a moment of my time is left unemployed in 
effecting it. 

" I had the honour of receiving your letter of the 
16th instant, last night; in consequence of which 1 
ordered five tons of the powder destined for Cambridge, 
to proceed immediately, and the rest to follow as soon as 
it could be shifted into proper barrels, — which would 
have been accomplished to-morrow, — and sent forward, 
but on this intelligence from General Washington, and a 
message which this express brings from Colonel Miffhn,* 
that every thing on the road to the camp at Cambridge 
be stopped, and sent to this place, 1 have ordered the 
whole eleven tons of powder to be stored here. 

" You may depend upon it, Sir, that General Howe 
at first intended a feint, in hopes of preventing General 
Washington from possessing himself of the heights of 
Dorchester ; and finding the bait did not take, the dis- 
tress of his army, and his uneasy situation after that 
post was secured, obliged him, in the utmost hurry and 
confusion, to make a real embarkation of his army. I 
have written a free letter to General Lee on our situa- 
tion here, which with the other from General Washing- 
ton to him, (after the Congress has perused them,) you 
will be so good as to forward to him, if he has left 

Philadelphia. 

" I am, &c." 

The following was enclosed in the above. 

* Thomas Mifliin, afterwards Governor of Pennsylvania, then Quarfcr-Master- 
General. 



150 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

General Washington to B. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Cambridge, March 19th, 1776. 

" Mr Lord, — I am now to acknowledge the receipt 
of jour favour of the 1 1th instant, and to give you every 
congratulation upon your late appointment by the hon- 
ourable Congress. v 

" If the intelligence is true, and to be depended on, 
which was brought by the gentlemen to New-York, I 
think with you, that we shall have an opportunity of 
securing and putting the continent in a tolerable posture 
of defence, and that the operations of the summer's cam- 
paign will not be so terrible as we were taught to expect 
from the accounts and communications which the Minis- 
try have held forth to the public. 

" I have the pleasure to inform you that on the 
morning of the 17th instant General Howe and his army 
abandoned the town of Boston without destroying it, 
an event of much importance, and which must be heard 
with great satisfaction, and that we are now in full pos- 
session. Their embarkation and retreat were hurried 
and precipitate ; and they have left behind them stores 
of one thing and another to a considerable amount, 
among which are several pieces of heavy cannon^ and 
one or two mortars, which are spiked. The town is in 
a much better situation and less injured than I expected 
from the reports I had received ; — though, to be sure, 
it is much damaged, and many houses despoiled of their 
valuable furniture. The fleet is still in King's and 
Nantasket roads ; and where they intend to make a 
descent next, is altogether unknown ; but supposing 
New-York to be an object of much importance, and to 
be their view, I must recommend your most strenuous 
and active exertions in preparing to prevent any designs 
or attempts they may have or make against it. I have 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. j 5 ^ 

detached the Riflemen, and five battalions hence, to jour 
assistance, which will be followed by others as circum- 
stances will allow. These, with what forces you have, 
and can assemble, if there should be an occasion, 1 trust 
will be sufficient to hinder the enemy from possessing the 
city, and making a lodgment, till the main body of this 
army can arrive. 

" 1 am, &c." 

The following answer to General Schuyler's last 
letter, exhibits the preparations made by Lord Stirling 
to receive the enemy at New-York, when he relinquished 
the command of that post. 

B. G. the Earl of Stirling to Major General Schuyler. 

"New- York, March 20(h, 1776. 

" My Dear General, — I had the honour of receiving 
your letter of the 16tli, this day. The important in- 
telligence received within the last three days from Gen- 
eral Washington, of General Howe's preparations for 
embarking his army at Boston, I have not communicated 
to you, as I concluded that the same intelligence would 
reach you at Albany, at least as soon as it came to this 
place. Indeed, it was impossible for me to write to you 
sooner than this moment. My whole time has been 
employed in making arrangements for the defence of this 
place. 

" The troops here, consisting of the first battalion, 
from New Jersey, about five hundred men, sick and 
well, and two regiments from Connecticut, about five 
hundred each, whose time of service expires on Monday 
next, and I am fearful I shall not be able to persuade 
them to stay longer. We have besides about five hundred 
minute-men from the Counties of Westchester and Duch- 



] 52 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

ess, and about two hundred militia from New Jersey. 
This is our whole army at present ; but I cannot send 
you an exact return, as some of the latter have only ar- 
rived to-day, and I have not yet received a report from 
the reviewing officer. The whole of these, except the 
necessary guards, are employed on fatigue, otj this, and 
Long Island, in executing the fortifications agreed on 
between General Lee and myself. In these works, we 
are assisted by about one thousand of the inhabitants of 
the City, who have turned out on this occasion with great 
alacrity, — the inhabitants and negroes taking their tour 
of duty regularly ; and I have the satisfaction to see 
that, according to the numbers, the work goes on ama- 
zingly well. 

" On considering the whole of the intelligence from 
Boston, I am of opinion that General Howe has been 
playing off manoeuvres to divert General Washington 
from taking full possession of the ground at Dorchester. 
Yet by the last accounts he has proceeded too far in his 
embarkation to leave us room to think it all a feint. That 
General Washington is of that opinion, I can have no 
longer a doubt, as he is himself preparing soon to be at 
this place. Some part of his army is on its way hither. 
The destination of the remainder must depend on cir- 
cumstances. 

"Brigadier General Thompson is this afternoon 
arrived from Philadelphia, and, of course, has the com- 
mand. 

" I am, &c." 

Lord Stirling had hardly relinquished his command, 
before he had the satisfaction of learning that his re- 
quest of further aid from Connecticut, had, as already 
intimated, been anticipated. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. J 53 

Governor Trumbull to B. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

'• Lebanon, March 2Lst, 1776. 

" My Lord, — I received your favour of the ITtli, the 
last evening, by Lieutenant Betts. I have now, on this 
commencement of correspondence, to congratulate you 
on your late appointment, and from your known zeal in 
the great American cause, and your abilities to serve it, 
I cannot but form pleasing expectations. I have also to 
congratulate you on the shameful retreat of General 
Howe and his army from Boston ; which they actually 
abandoned, and a detachment of General Washington's 
army took possession^ the last Sabbath day. They have 
left it in a less ruinous situation than was expected ; — 
their own works entire, and about thirty large cannon 
spiked up, and a considerable quantity of wheat. They 
are lying in the Road ; supposed waiting for a wind, — 
very probably designing a descent upon New-York, or 
parts adjacent. I am extremely pleased to hear you are 
taking every step in your power to be prepared for their 
reception. It is of the utmost importance to prevent 
their establishing themselves there. 

" His excellency General Washington, well aware 
of their designs, had, by his letter of the 14th, earnestly 
requested me to throw in two thousand men from this 
Colony, for the same purposes mentioned and requested 
by your Lordship's letter, until be could arrive there with 
the army under his command ; large detachments of 
which are now on their march. In consequence of which, 
I had, with the advice of my Council of Safety, despatch- 
ed orders on the 19th, for nearly that number of our militia 
to march forthwith from the nearest frontiers of this 
Colony, to New-York, under the command of Colonels 



154 "THE LIFE OP LORD STIilLING. 

Siiliman and Talcott. It is not time jet to hear what 
progress they have made ; but I hope and believe, as 
good as the nature of the thing will admit, and that they 
will very soon be with you. 

" Thus I have — and I have no doubt you will have — 
much pleasure to find your request anticipated. I am 
happy to hear that our regiments now with you have done 
themselves the honour to merit your approbation, and I 
have no doubt, but they, and our men in general, will 
continue to do so, and serve their country well, while they 
meet with generous usage from their commanders, and 
have no doubt they will ever experience it from a noble- 
man of your distinguished generosity and politeness. 

" I expect and depend that Colonel Waterbury's and 
Ward's regiments will remain in the service, or the 
greater part of them, until they can be properly relieved 
and spared, and I have wrote them accordingly. You 
will please to repeat to them my request for this purpose, 
and state that in the highest probability, great part of 
the main army will soon be there. The troops now 
sending from us, you will perceive, were requested by 
the General until they might be relieved by his army. 
If it should be necessary to have a regiment raised and 
stationed there for the season, you may rely on it, that 
nothing in my power will be wanting to serve this great 
and just cause in this, or any other way. 

" Colonel Dyar and Colonel Williams, two gentle- 
men of my Council, will wait on you next week, on their 
way to Philadelphia, and will be instructed to confer 
with your Lordship on this, or any other subject you 
may think proper, whereby the common interest of this 
much injured country may be promoted. 

" I am, &c." 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. ] 55 

Wiiile Lord Stirling:: was thus sustained in the mea- 
sures he was pursuing for the delence of New- York, by 
co-operation from the neighbouring Colony, he was en- 
couraged to persevere by the approbation of his superior 
in the Department. 

Major General Schuyler to B. G. the Earl of Stirling, 

•' Albany. March 20th, 1776. 

"My Dear Lord, — I am honoured with your Lord- 
ship's favour of the 10th instant, and also with a letter 
from the honourable President Hancock, advising of what 
your Lordship observed of the military arrangements 
made bv Congress. I am ordered to continue the head- 
quarters in this City until further orders, that I may be 
able to superintend the necessary supplies of provisions, 
military stores, &c., for the army in Canada. General 
Thomas is to command in Canada. 

" I am clearly of opinion with your Lordship, that 
the number of men you mention, will be necessary to 
defend New-York and its environs, and to carry on the 
works that must be erected; and it alarms me ejrcatly to 
find that the Connecticut troops are to leave you on the 
25th instant. At this critical juncture such a diminution 
of force is by no means prudent, and I wish (if they 
should not be moved by the time this reaches you,) 
that they were detained until you could communicate 
your thoughts on the subject to Congress, and learn 
their determination. I am the more anxious to have 
them detained, as the levies in this part of the Colony 
go on with great tardiness, as well as in your quarter ; 
and when completed, which will certainly be late, will 
be ill-armed. 



156 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

" Could I have the vanity to flatter myself with supe- 
rior skill in preparing a place for defence, to either your 
Lordship or General Thompson — which I very sincerely 
assure you that I do not — yet it would be very improper, 
at this distance, to prescribe a line of conduct to you. 
lean suggest nothing which your own good judgment 
will not anticipate from your immediate view of things : 
a variety of circumstances n^y arise, which no man at 
this distance can know or foresee. 

" The interposition of France in our favour, besides 
the immediate good effect of preventing foreign troops 
from coming to America, will, I hope, raise a dust against 
the Ministry for having so confidently declared that that 
power would not interfere. 1 have, in the whole course 
of the winter, ventured to declare to the French prisoners 
and others going to Canada, that we had assurances of 
the friendly disposition of France towards us. It can- 
not be supposed that the ancient affection of the Cana- 
dians for the French, is altogether eradicated ; and if 
they believe that the Grand Monarque is in our favour, 
they will act the more vigorously for us. 

" I am &c." 

Upon delivering up the command at New-York to 
General Thompson, and possessing him of the necessa- 
ry information in regard to the measures he had adopt- 
ed, and the works he had erected for the defence of that 
city, Lord Stirling repaired to New Jersey, in order, 
by his personal influence and presence, to expedite 
measures for putting the eastern part of that Province 
also in a state of defence. With this view he address- 
ed himself to the Committee of Safety of the Province, 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



157 



and to Brigadier General Livingston, in the following 
letters. 



B. G. the Earl of Stirli?ig to Samuel Tucker, Esq., 
Chairman, ^-c. 

" Elizabethtown, March 23rd, 1776. 

" Dear Sir, — I have just received the enclosed let- 
ters from General Washington, and Brigadier General 
Thompson. From them,*)ou will see the necessity of 
every Province contiguous to New-York, exerting them- 
selves in sending troops to that place to assist in fortify- 
ing and defending it; and also in defending and fortify- 
ing such parts of this Province as are most liable and 
likely to be invaded. With an attention to the latter, I 
came over from New- York yesterday, in order to view 
the grounds and heights of Bergen Neck, the Kill van 
Kull, and Staten Island. 1 was prevented by bad weath- 
er from proceeding so far in this as I could have wished; 
but, on the whole, I think the militia of the Counties of 
Bergen, Essex, and Middlesex, should be immediately 
employed in fortifying Amboy, Elizabethtown Point, 
the Kill, and Bergen Neck, with Powles' Hook. I shall 
communicate my plan to Brigadier General Livingston, 
and shall return to New-York to-morrow morning, and 
w^ill be over here again in a day or two, and bring some 
assistant Engineers with me, in order to lay out such 
w^orks as General Thompson shall approve of. In 
the mean time, I hope your Committee of Safety will, 
without delay, direct the militia before mentioned, to be 
employed in the way above suggested ; and also direct 
the militia of the interior Counties to march either to the 
succour of New-York, or to the most exposed parts of this 
Province, as may be found necessary. 



158 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

" There is a Resolution of Congress, passed a few 
days ago, that such militia of this Province as are called 
upon for the service of fortifying and defending New- 
York, shall receive pay agreeable to the establishment of 
the Continental troops in the Middle department ; and 
as these works proposed in New Jersey, are with the 
view to the same point, 1 make not the least doubt but 
the troops employed in them will be put on the same 
footing. For the further satisfaction of your Committee of 
Safety, they can send a copy of this letter to Congress, 
and know their determination of this matter. But, for 
God's sake do not, at this critical moment, suffer any 
delay in your directions for the march of the militia from 
the interior Counties, nor for the employment of the 
others in the works of defence, which may be found ne- 
cessary. 

" I am &c." 

B. G. the Earl of Stirling to Brigadier General Liv- 
ingston. 

" Elizabethtown, March 24th, 1776. 

" Dear Sir, — I now enclose you copies of a letter 
from General Washington of the 19th, one from Briga- 
dier General Thompson, of yesterday's date, and an- 
other from me to the Committee of Safety of this Prov- 
ince. From these, you will see the necessity of putting 
the eastern part of this Province, as well as New- York, 
in an immediate state of defence. From the conversa- 
tion 1 have had with you on the subject, you know my 
sentiments with regard to fortifying the several places 
mentioned in the letter to the Committee. I think it 
highly necessary, also, to possess some commanding 
height on Staten Island. The men employed in these 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



159 



works, will be in the most proper places to guard the 
Province ; and I should think the militia of the Coun- 
ties of Bergen, Essex, and Middlesex, would be suffi- 
cient, if only one third of them were employed weekly 
on the works. 

" The militia of the interior Counties ouoht to be 
sent forward to New-York as soon as possible ; and you 
may be assured that as soon as they can be spared from 
thence, they will be sent over again to New Jersey, or 
to Staten Island, for the purpose before mentioned ; 
and in case the enemy should attempt to land their 
army in New Jersey, a very considerable part of our 
afmy in New-York will be detached to oppose them. 
I shall only add that as soon as you shall inform Gener- 
al Thompson or me, when the men of those (three) 
Counties will be ready to go to work, I will attend with 
the Chief Engineer to mark out the grounds most ne- 
cessary to be fortified. 

" I am, &c." 

On his return to New" York, Lord Stirling received 
the following note from Dr. Franklin, who, with others, 
had been appointed by Congress, to proceed as a Com- 
mittee, to Albany, upon a visit to the army destined for 
the invasion of Canada. 

Dr. Benjamin Franklin to B. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Brunswick-, March 27th, 1776. 

" My Dear Lord, — 1 received your obliging letter 
some time since at Philadelphia, but our deputation from 
thence being uncertain, I could not until now, acquaint 
your Lordship when we expected to be in New- York. 
We move but slowly, and think we shall scarcely reach 



350 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

farther than Newark to-morrow ; so that we cannot 
have the pleasure of seeuig jour Lordship before Fri- 
day. Being myself, from long absence, as much a 
stranger in New-York as the other gentlemen, we join 
in requesting you would be so good as to cause lodgings 
to be provided for us, and a sloop engaged to carry us 
to Albany. There are five of us, and we propose stay- 



ing in New- York two nights at least. 



" I am, &c." 



In consequence of General Thompson's being order- 
ed to Canada, the chief command at New-York again 
devolved on Lord vStirling, and he continued to hold it 
until the arrival of General Washington with the main 
army from the eastward. During this interval he la- 
boured at the completion of the works for the defence of 
the city and harbour of New-York. The principal fort 
on the island of New- York, was erected on that part o( 
Harlaem heights which overlooks the Hudson, and re- 
ceived the name of Fort Washington. That opposite to 
it, on the Jersey shore, he called Fort Lee. Smaller 
works were constructed at Horen's Hook, and Throg's 
Neck, for the defence of the passage by water, at Hell- 
gate ; while the approach to the city by land, was 
guarded by a redoubt at McGowan's pass, a narrow de- 
file near the village of Harlaem. A line of fortified en- 
trenchments was also drawn on Long Island, across the 
peninsula between the Wallaboght and Gowannis bays, 
and forts were erected or repaired at Red Hook and the 
Narrows, and on the small islands in the harbour. 

General Washington arrived with the American 
army on the 14th of April ; but it was late in June 
before the first division of the British troops arrived at 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. jgj 

Sandy Hook. Tlie rear soon followed, accompanied by 
General Howe in person. Passing the Narrows with 
liis whole force, he landed at Staten Island, %vhere Gen- 
eral Washington had placed a small force merely for the 
purpose of driving off the stock, which might otherwise 
have served to supply the invading army. Here the 
British General resolved to await reinforcements from 
England, which were already on their passage on board 
a fleet commanded by his brother. Lord Howe, who, 
w^ith a part only of his force, arrived at Staten Island on 
the 12th of July. 

It was the middle of August before the reinforce- 
ments of the enemy had all arrived. His force then 
consisted of about twenty-five thousand men ; while the 
American army, including officers and men of every 
description, amounted nominally to something above 
twenty thousand ; but from sickness and absences, there 
were left but a few more than eleven thousand, besides 
officers, fit for duty. Many of these were militia, sud- 
denly called from their homes, unaccustomed to arms 
and to the exposure and hardships of a military life ; 
and this small force was distributed from Brooklyn to 
Kingsbridge, over a space of fifteen miles. An attack 
from the enemy was daily expected ; but before it was 
made. General Washington was reinforced by about 
three thousand New-York Militia, under Brigadier Gen- 
eral George Clinton, who formed an encampment at 
Kingsbridge, — three thousand from Connecticut, two 
battalions of riflemen from Pennsylvania, one from 
Maryland, and a regiment from Delaware ; increasing 
his numbers to about twenty-seven thousand, of whom, 
one-fourth were reported to be sick, and incapable of 
service. 

11 



IQ2 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

After delaying until the 26th of August, the British 
army crossed to Long Island, and made good their land- 
ing near the villages of Gravesend and New Utrecht 
under cover of a cannonade from the fleet. Their ap- 
parent design was to cross the island, and reach the City 
by the ferries over the East River. In anticipation of 
this movement. General Washington had posted a body 
of troops at Brooklyn opposite to the City, in a position 
secured on the land side by the chain of redoubts and 
entrenchments thrown up by Lord Stirling, and defend- 
ed towards the water by batteries constructed by him 
at Red Hook and Governor's Island. 

The centre of the British army occupied a plain on 
the opposite side of a range of hills extending from the 
Narrows to the village of Flatbush. The left wing, 
formed near the coast at New Utrecht, was commanded 
by Major General Grant,* an officer who had served in 
America during the former war, and was now, and had 
for some years been, a member of Parliament. A detach- 
ment under Lord Stirling, consisting of the Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland, and Delaware regiments, was order- 
ed out to meet him,t and encountered the superior 
force opposed to them with signal bravery and stead- 
iness, contesting every foot of ground, until Lord Corn- 
wallis with a part of Sir Henry Clinton's division fell 

* A greater interest attached to their . headed by that very General Grant, 

meeting from the circumstance that " He may have," said he, " his five thou- 

Lord S. when in England had heard sand men with him now — we are not so 

Grant, in a debate in the House of Com- many — but I think we are enough to 

mons on American affairs, declare that prevent his advancing further on his 

he would undertake to march from one march, over the continent, than that 

end of the continent to the other with mill-pond." The effect of this speech 

5000 men. Lord Stirling, after forming is related in the text. MS. Diary of 

his troops to receive the enemy, told Lord S. 

them of this bravado, and informed t Sparks' Life of Washington, p. 177. 
them that the advancing column was 



i? A 







,./.■.."/■' 




HiATTLE OF lAiM'. ISLAM!* 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 



163 



upon their rear, bringing them between two fires, and 
compelling them to retire. To secure the retreat of the 
main body of his detachment, Lord Stirling in person, 
at the head of about four hundred of the Maryland 
regiment, had attacked with great spirit a corps stationed 
under Cornwallis, in a house at some short distance 
above the place at which he proposed to cross the Gow- 
annis creek, and was upon the point of dislodging him, 
when the force in front of the Americans increasing, and 
Grant pressing on their rear, they were no longer able 
to withstand the superior numbers that assailed them on 
every quarter, and, with their General, were compelled 
to surrender themselves prisoners.* His object was 
nevertheless effected, in the escape of the main body of 
his force. The courage and good conduct of Lord 
Stirling and his troops, on this occasion, were universally 
acknowledged. He was himself conducted on board the 
flag-ship of Lord Howe, where he remained until he 
was exchanged. In the interval he addressed the fol- 
lowing letter to the Commander-in-Chief: — 

B. G. the Earl of Stirling to General Washington. 

" Eagle, 29th August, 1776. 

" My Dear General, — I have now an opportunity 
of informing you of what has happened to me, since I 
last had the pleasure of seeing you. 

" About 3 o'clock of the morning of the 27th, I was 
called up and informed by General Putnam, that the 
enemy were advancing by the road from Flatbush to 
the Red Lion ; and he ordered me to march with the 
two regiments nearest at hand, to meet them. These 

* Marshall's Life of Washington, Vol. II. p. 445. Sparks' do. 178. 



jg4 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

happened to be Haslett's and Smallwood's, with which 
I accordingly marched, and was on the road to the 
Narrows just as the day-light began to appear. We 
proceeded to within half a mile of the Red Lion, and 
there met Colonel Atlee, with his regiment, who in- 
formed me that the enemy were in sight, — indeed, I 
then saw their front between us and the Red Lion. I 
desired Colonel Atlee to place his regiment on the left 
of the road, and to wait their coming up, while I went 
to form the two regiments I had brought with me along 
a ridge from the road up to a piece of wood on the top 
of the hill. This was done instantly, on very advanta- 
geous ground. 

" Our opponents advanced, and were fired upon in 
the road by Atlee's regiment, who after two or three 
rounds, retreated to the wood on my left, and there 
formed. By this time, Kitchin's riflemen arrived ; part 
of them I placed along a hedge under the front of the 
hill, and the rest in the front of the wood. The troops 
opposed to me were two brigades of four regiments each 
under the command of General Grant, who advanced 
his light troops to within one hundred and fifty yards of 
our right front, and then took possession of an orchard 
there, and some hedges that extended towards our left. 
This brought on an exchange of fire between those 
troops and our riflemen, which continued about two 
hours, and then ceased by those light troops retiring to 
their main body. In the mean time Captain Carpenter 
brought up two field-pieces, which were placed on the 
side of the hill so as to command the road, and the only 
approach, for some hundred yards. On the part of 
General Grant, there were two field-pieces : one howit- 
zer advanced to within three hundred yards of the front 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. ]55 

of our right, and a like detachment of artillery to the 
front of our left. On a rising ground, about six hundred 
yards distant, one of their brigades formed in two lines 
opposite our right, and the other extended in one line to 
the top of the hills in front of our left. 

" In this position we stood commanding each other 
until about eleven o'clock, when I found that General 
Howe, with the main body of the army, was between 
me and our lines, and I found the only chance of escap- 
ing being all made prisoners was to pass the creek near 
the yellow mills ; and in order to render this the more 
practicable, 1 found it absolutely necessary to attack a 
body of troops commanded by Lord Cornwallis, posted 
at the house near the upper mills. This I instantly did 
with about half of Smallwood's regiment, first ordering 
all the other troops to make the best of their way 
through the creek. We continued the attack a consider- 
able time, the men having been rallied, and the attack 
renewed five or six several times, and we were on the 
point of driving Lord Cornwallis from his station, but 
large reinforcements rendered it impossible to do more 
than provide for safety. I endeavoured to get in be- 
tween that house and Fort Box, but on attempting it I 
found a considerable body of troops in my front, and 
several in pursuit of me on my right and left, and a con- 
stant firing on me. I immediately turned the point of a 
hill, which covered me from their fire, and was soon out 
of reach of my pursuers, but as soon found that it would 
be in vain to attempt to make my escape, and therefore 
went to surrender myself to General De Heister, the 
Commander-in-Chief of the Hessians.* 

* III hi3 letter to Congress of the 3 Ipt serves, thnt this letter of Lcrd Stirling's 
of August, General W.ishington ob- " is not as full and certain as I could 



166 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

The disastrous issue of this battle was ascribed by 
General Washington, in a great measure, to the surprise 
suffered by the two detachments posted on the roads 
leading through the wood between Brooklyn and Red 
Hook, — their retreat having enabled the enemy to lead 
a great part of their force against the detachment com- 
manded by Lord Stirling, whose bravery and resolution 
he highly commends. f This danger had been foreseen 
by General Washington ; and in a letter to General Put- 
nam, who had been sent over to take the command on 
Long Island, he had directed him particularly to attend 
to that wood, and secure it where necessary by abattis, 
in order to render the enemy's approach as difficult as 
possible. It was moreover unfortunate that General 
Greene, who was to have had the chief command on 
the Island, ivithoiit the lines, was taken so severely ill as 
to be confined to his bed ; so that this command unex- 
pectedly devolved on General Sullivan, who was to have 
commanded, under Putnam, within the lines. He there- 
fore assumed the command intended for Greene, under 
circumstances of great disadvantage, which he subse- 
quently took occasion to explain. His real position, and 
the part he took in the action, were described by that 
excellent officer himself, in a letter to Congress about 
fourteen months afterwards, of which the following is an 
extract, dated "Whitemarsh, October 25th, 1777:— I 
know it has been generally reported that I commanded 
on Long Island when the action happened there. This 
is by no means true. General Putnam had taken the 
command from me four days before the action. Lord 

wish ; he was hurried most probably, as * See his letter, Sparks' Wriiings of 
bis letter was unfinished." Sparks' Washington, Yo\. lY. p. 102. 
Writings of Washington, Vol. IV. p. 
71. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



167 



Stirling commanded the main body without the lines. I 
was to have commanded under General Putnam within 
the lines. 1 was uneasy about a road through wiiicli I 
had often foretold the enemy would come, but could not 
persuade others to be of my opinion. I went to the 
hill near Flatbush to reconnoitre, — and with a picket of 
four hundred men' was surrounded by the enemy, who 
had advanced by the very road I had often foretold, and 
which I had paid horsemen fifty dollars for patrolling by 
night, while I had the command, as I had no foot for that 
purpose. What resistance I made with these four hun- 
dred men against the British army, I leave it to the offi- 
cers who were with me to declare. Let it suffice for me 
to say that the opposition of the small party lasted from 
half-past nine to twelve o'clock." 

General Washington lost no time in endeavouring to 
regain the services of Lord Stirling. Before evacuating 
the City, he proposed to General Howe to exchange him 
for General Donald McDonald, who had commanded a 
party of Royalists in North Carolina, and upon being 
defeated by some of the Militia of that Province, had 
been captured and sent to Philadelphia. This was 
declined by General Howe, on the ground of the 
superior rank of McDonald, whom he had commis- 
sioned as a Major General ; but he offered to exchange 
Lord Stirling for Governor Montfort Brown of Florida. 
To this proposal, General Washington readily agreed, 
and expressed a hope that Lord Stirling w^ould be at 
once set at liberty, upon the promise that Governor 
Brown should be sent to the British Head-Quarters im- 
mediately upon his arrival at Phihidelphia. Accordingly, 
as soon as Governor Brown reached New- York, the ar- 
rangement was completed. 



CHAPTER VI. 

1776-1777. 

It was not until after the evacuation of New-York by 
General Washington, that Lord Stirling was enabled to 
rejoin the army. He continued with it during its 
memorable retreat through New Jersey ; and when it 
was conducted to its winter quarters at Morristown, he 
was ordered to take command on the lines opposite to the 
enemy. Here he was engaged in frequent skirmishes 
with parties of the British, detached on various expedi- 
tions into the country. On one of these occasions Lord 
Cornwallis had marched out in force from Perth Amboy, 
and advanced as far as the Short-Hills, near Spring- 
field, with the view, as was supposed, of breaking up 
General Washington's winter quarters at Morristown. 
Lord Stirling put himself at the head of the few conti- 
nental troops on the lines, encountered the advance of 
the British with great gallantry, and at length, when 
compelled by superior numbers to retire, he took so ad- 
vantageous a position as to arrest the progress of the 
enemy and frustrate his design.* 

He was then ordered to take post on the right bank 
of the Delaware, to examine the shores and watch the 
crossing places, and in the event of the enemy's attempt- 

* MS. letter of Colonel Aaron Ogden, late Governor of New Jersey, who was 
engaged in the affair. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. jgg 

ing to pass the river, to repair to the point and attack 
him. If his efforts proved ineffectual to prevent the pas- 
sage of the enemy, he was directed to retreat towards 
Germantown. These cautionary measures were duly 
executed, and deterred the enemy from attempting at 
that lime to cross the Delaware. Instead therefore of 
})roceeding to Germantown, Lord Stirling was now di- 
rected to fall back upon Princeton to watch the motions 
of the British, w^hile the Commander-in-Chi(;f himself 
fell upon the Hessians at Trenton, where he was so sig- 
nally successful in surprising them and storming their 
camp. 

On the 19th of the ensuing February, Lord Stirling 
was promoted by Congress to the rank of Major Gen- 
eral, and ordered to join the main army at Morristown. 
Upon breaking up his winter cpiarters at that place, Gen- 
eral Washington reassembled his troops at Middlebrook, 
in the adjoining county of Somerset, where he encamped 
behind a strong and commanding range of hills near the 
Raritan, whence they might be marched with great 
ease and expedition to the defence of Philadelphia, in 
case the enemy should attempt — as was apprehended — 
to take possession of that place. In order, however, to 
cover his light parties on the lines from the incursions of 
the enemy, and annoy him when retreating again to 
Staten Island, General Washington afterwards moved 
forward to Quibbletown, about seven miles nearer to 
Amboy. Lord Stirling's division was then advanced a 
few miles nearer to the enemy, in order to co-operate with 
the parties on the lines, and harass the enemy on his 
retreat. With the view of bringing on an engagement, 
and, by turning the left wing of the American army, to 
gain possession of the heights in its rear, Sir William 



170 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

Howe recalled his troops from Staten Island, and made 
a rapid movement in two columns towards Westfield. 
The right, under Lord Cornwallis, took the road through 
Wood bridge to the Scotch Plains. The American troops 
were instantly put in motion — regained with celerity 
their camp at Middle brook, and took possession of the 
heights which the enemy had intended to seize. Lord 
Cornwallis, on his route, fell in with Lord Stirling, and 
a smart skirmish ensued between them, in which the 
latter was driven from his ground with the loss of three 
pieces of cannon and a i'ew men. He thence retreated 
to the hills, and was pursued as far as Westfield, where 
the column led by Cornwallis halted, who, finding that 
his adversary, by seizing upon the passes, had defeated 
the object of his expedition, returned to Amboy, whence 
the whole British army crossed to Staten Island. 

The following orders and report relate to measures 
adopted to guard in future against similar inroads. 

Major General the Earl of Stirling to Lt. Colonel 
Hollingsworth. 

" Baskenridge,* 12th, March, 1777. 

" Sir, — I have ordered a party of one hundred men 
of Colonel Rumsey's regiment, one hundred and thirty 
of the four Virginia companies of volunteers, and about 
one hundred and twenty from Colonel Guyzer's regi- 
ment, to march to Quibbletown to-morrow morning by 
eight o'clock ; of which troops you are to take the com- 
mand, and proceed with them to that place. You had 
better march the detachment of Colonel Rumsey's by 

* While Lord Stirling's division wag he had frequent opportunities of paying 
quartered in the vicinity of Baskenridge, short visits to his family. 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 171 

seven in the morning by way of Boyle's mills, to the 
mouth of Dead River, by Henry Alvvood's. Guyzer's 
will join you at Quibbletown. You may provide your- 
self with a guide for this route in the neighbourhood of 
your quarters. 

" At Quibbletown you will find Major Butler, w horn 
you are to relieve, and take his advice how best to main- 
tain yotir post, and annoy the enemy by guards, patroles, 
or scouts. If the enemy should press hard on you, you are 
to retire to the gap of the mountain in your rear, and de- 
fend that pass in the best manner you can, giving General 
Greene and myself the earliest notice of whatever passes 
of any importance. You are to remain at that post un- 
til you are relieved, which I expect will be in tw'o or 
three days, by troops from General Maxwell, as orders 
are given for that purpose. In the mean time, you will 
give the enemy all the annoyance in your power, and 
endeavour as often as possible to alarm them at night, 
which will keep them out, and subject them to a great 
increase of the disorders of the season of the year. 
There are guides provided, who are perfectly well ac- 
quainted with that part of the country, and whom Major 
Butler will point out to you. 

" The motions of the enemy should be constantly 
watched, and on any advance, notice as early as possible 
should be sent to the neighbouring post, as well as to this 
place, by the four light-horsemen who are attending you 
for that purpose. 

" March 13th. Whenever you find it necessary to re- 
treat from Quibbletown, you are to take up, or destroy, 
the bridges over the streams which you leave behind you. 

" I am, &c." 



172 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

Colonel Rumsey to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" auibbletown, March 20th, 1777. 

" My Lord, — Agreeably to jour Lordship's order, 
although late in the day, the remaining part of my bat- 
talion marched for this place, the wagons and one of 
the companies not yet arrived, owing, I suppose, to the 
time they set off, and the badness of the road. 1 found 
Colonel Hollingsworth engaged in a foraging party to be 
executed this morning ; and, by information, our men 
are much fatigued in scouting, guarding, &c. The ex- 
tent we have to guard is large in proportion to the num- 
ber of our men. Captain George Scott's men are said 
to be extremely active, and better acquainted with the 
grounds than our men, and part of them being on the 
foraging party to-day, would rather trust to your Lord- 
ship's indulgence than dispirit the party in sending Cap- 
tain Scott's company from them to-day. Your Lordship's 
orders, by the light-horsemen I send up, respecting Cap- 
tain Scott's company, shall be punctually obeyed. 

" I am, &c." 

Information was now received by Congress, that a 
formidable army from Canada, under General Burgoyne, 
was approaching Ticonderoga. Lord Stirling was there- 
upon detached with his division to the Hudson. This 
movement was to have been followed by the whole 
army, and the Commander-in-Chief had himself pro- 
ceeded some distance on his march, when he received 
information that Sir William Howe had embarked nearly 
his whole force on board the fleet, which had put to 
sea. The American army was forthwith ordered to re- 
trace its steps. Lord Stirling, who had already crossed 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. j«q 

the Hudson at the foot of the Highlands, was recalled, 
and the whole army pursued different routes to the 
Delaware, where the Commander-in-Chief resolved to 
remain until he received further intelligence of the Brit- 
ish fleet. 

This armament was soon discovered off the Capes 
of Delaware, and its destination was, of course, pre- 
sumed to be Philadelphia, where Congress was in ses- 
sion. The American army was therefore inarched to 
Germantown, to be in readiness to defend the seat of the 
Continental Government. No more, however, was 
heard of the enemy's fleet for several days, when it was 
descried in the Chesapeake, which it had already as- 
cended about two hundred miles. General Washinirton 
now called in his detachments, and the whole army ad- 
vanced to Wilmington on the Delaware. The enemy 
was soon reported to have landed below the head of Elk. 
The American troops were posted at Redclay Creek, a 
few miles beyond Wilmington, with pickets advanced to 
Christiana bridge ; but when Sir William Howe, after 
effecting his landing, indicated his intention of outflank- 
ing the American right. General Washington retired 
from his position, crossed the Biandywine, and took pos- 
session of some high grounds near Chad's ford. Sir Wil- 
liam Howe then advanced to within seven miles of that 
point, and at daybreak the next morning,* put his army 
in motion in two divisions ; — one, under the Hessian 
General Knyphausen, taking the direct road to Chad's 
ford ; the other, led by Lord Cornwallis, moving along a 
road nearly parallel with the river. 

On perceiving this disposition of the enemy's force, 
General Washington formed the bold design of detach- 

* On the 11th of September. 



174 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

ing General Sullivan and Lord Stirling, to fall on the 
left column of the enemy conducted by Lord Cornwallis, 
while he should himself cross at Chad's ford, and attack 
Knyphausen with the centre and left wing of the army. 
But from contradictory intelligence as to the movements 
of the enemy, the latter part of the plan was not exe- 
cuted. The uncertainty produced by the conflicting 
accounts was at length removed, by which it was as- 
certained that the column led by Lord Cornwallis, accom- 
panied by Sir William Howe in person, had, after a cir- 
cuit of seventeen miles, crossed two branches of the 
Brandywine above the fork, and gained the heights with- 
in two miles of Sullivan's right flank ; that General ad- 
vanced to meet him, with the three divisions under his 
command, viz., his own. Lord Stirling's, and General 
Stephen's ; but before he could form his troops for ac- 
tion, Cornwallis attacked him with so much impetuosity, 
that, after a short resistance, the right of the American 
line was broken, the residue thrown in confusion, and 
the whole compelled to a precipitate retreat.* A portion, 

* The brigade of the French General particular and minute account of that 
Deborre was the first to break the line ; affiiir, than is to be found elsewhere. 
and on an inquiry being ordered into his It states that " the confusion created by 
conduct by Congress, he resigned. A the contest between Sullivan and De- 
misunderstanding, it seems, existed be- borre spread through the ranks. In 
tween this officer and General Sullivan, attempting to rally the troops, La Fay- 
on the right of whose division he was ette was wounded in the leg. Sullivan, 
posted. While these sheets were pass- whose own brigade was retreating, threw 
ing through the press, an interesting himself with Stirling and La Fayette 
'• Sketch of the Battle of Brandywine," personally into the conflict, and a most 
drawn up by Messrs. J; S. Bowen and heroic stand was made, these officers 
J. Smiih Futhey, of West Chester, Penn., continuing to maintain their ground 
and accompanied by a well executed unail the American forces were complete- 
and luminous " plan," has been published ly broken and the enemy within twenty 
by the Historical Society of Pennsylva- yards of them, when they escaped into 
nia ; which, although modestly styled a the woods. See " Bulletin of Hist. Soc. 
"Sketch," contains a fuller and more of Fenn., Vol. I. No. 7, p. II. 



■ AlIKMiiilll 

iltiilisli 






Vol.V.D.58. 



IIATTLB 



( furaiwtUmnf j^ 





THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 1 75 

however, was rallied, and took another stand, where 
they maintained a short and spirited conflict, until again 
driven from their ground by a superior force. The next 
day General Washington retreated in the direction of 
Philadelphia, and encamped near Germantown. After 
allowing his troops a day for rest and refreshment, he 
recrossed the vSchuylkill, and took a road leading to the 
left of the British army, fully determined again to offer it 
battle. The two armies met about twenty-five miles 
from Philadelphia, and an engagement was actually be- 
gun, when a heavy rain came on and put an end to it. 
Washington retired to the Yellow Springs, without being 
followed by the enemy, and eventually once more crossed 
the Schuylkill.* 

The greater part of the British army was now encamp- 
ed at Germantown, about six miles from Philadelphia; the 
remainder being quartered in that city. In this divided 
state of Sir William Howe's forces, the American Gen- 
eral formed a plan for surprising them. The British en- 
campment extended across the village of Germantown, 
at right angles with the main road. The Americans 
lay at Skippack, about fifteen miles off. At seven in the 
evening of the third of October, they began their march 
by four routes, that they might approach the enemy in 
the order of battle, under the expectation that the whole 
would arrive at their respective posts at nearly the same 
time. The right wing, composed of the divisions of 
Sullivan and Wayne, flanked by Conway's brigade, and 
sustained by a corps de reserve consisting of Nash's and 
Maxwell's brigades, commanded by Lord Stirling, were 

* It may once for all be mentioned, are drawn, are tiie Works of Marshall 
that the sources from which these and and Sparks, and the authorities therein 
similar details of military operations referred to. 



176 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

to enter the town by a road leading to the enemy's cen- 
tre, while General Armstrong,* with the Pennsylvania 
militia, was to take a road on the right near the Schuyl- 
kill, and gain the British left and rear. 

The plan was well concerted, and the surprise com- 
plete ; and every thing seemed to promise success, when 
the American army found itself obliged to retreat, and 
leave the enemy in possession of the field. General 
Washington ascribes this reverse to a thick fog, which at 
times rendered it so dark that the troops were not able 
to distinguish friend from foe at the distance of thirty 
yards. From General Sullivan's account, another cir- 
cumstance appears to have contributed to the failure. 
The enemy had thrown a large body of troops into 
Chew^s house, a strong stone building, which they de- 
fended with so much obstinacy as to retard for some time 
the advance of the second line of the Americans in- 
tended to support the centre ;t and during this delay, 
Sullivan's division, which had been closely engaged in 
front, having nearly expended its ammunition, began to 



* John Armstrong, father of the more which contains his vindication — and in 

celebrated General of that name, who which he is not perhaps so successful in 

served in the Revolutionary war as an his own justification, as in his recrimi- 

aid to General Gates ; and was after- nations upon others. This younger 

wards more distinguished as the author General Armstrong after the peace of 

of the famous Ne.wburgli Letteis ; sub- 1783, married and settled in the State 

sequently as Senator in Congress from of New-York, and died there some few 

New-York, Minister of the U. S. to years since, at a very advanced age. 
France, a Brigadier General in the war t Lord Stirling was for proceeding ; 

of 1812, and Secretary at War under but General Knox, who commanded the 

President Madison ; which office he artillery, protested against leaving so 

resigned upon the capture of Washing- strong a fortress, in the rear, and his 

ton City. It was doubtless intended to opinion, sanctioned as it was by the 

make him the scape-goat on that occa- military authorities considered standards 

sion. But he subsequently published at that day, prevailed. 
a "History of the War of 1812" — 



httiiinimu otthr tiftiitn 



Stephea i ? 1 _y~, 

1 Smallwood '^Tl 

Forman ^^r^ 




(ittftv^i' KaiUfiu 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. j-^-j 

retreat, and falling back on the second line, threw it 
into disorder. 

The firing at Chew's house brought back General 
Wayne's division, which had advanced far beyond that 
point ; and now retraced their steps from apj)rehension 
that Sullivan had been defeated. This movement to- 
tally uncovered Sullivan's division, which was then ad- 
vancing against the enemy's left. The loss of the 
American army on this occasion amounted, in killed, 
wounded and missing, to about one thousand men ; 
many of the latter, however, were su])posed to have de- 
serted. Brigadier General Nash, of North Carolina, 
was mortally wounded, and died within a few days after 
the battle ; and Major General Stephen, who com- 
manded on the right wing, was cashiered for misconduct 
on the retreat. 

After the battle of Germantown, General Washing- 
ton returned to his former station ; and, in a few days, 
encamped in a strong position at Whitemarsh, fourteen 
miles from Philadelphia. On the 24th of November he 
called a council of war, to whom he submitted the ques- 
tion of an immediate attack upon that city. As Lord 
Cornwallis was absent with a large body of troops in 
New Jersey, it was supposed by some of the General 
officers, that a fit opportunity was presented for making 
an attack on that place. The subject was debated with 
some warmth, and, as there was much difference of opin- 
ion, they separated without coming to a decision. At 
the request of the Commander-in-Chief each member 
of the council sent in his written opinion the next morn- 
ing ; and during the night a messenger was despatched 
to General Greene, who was watching the motions of 
Cornwallis in New Jersey, with directions to him to com- 

12 



178 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

municate his views on the subject in writing. The re- 
sult was, that eleven of the officers were opposed to the 
attack, and but four in favour of it.* The plan submit- 
ted by the minority for the attack, was drawn up by Lord 
Stirling, as follows : — 

1 . " That the enemy's lines on the north side of Phila- 
delphia should be attacked at daylight by three columns, 
properly flanked and supported. 

2. " That two thousand men should be drawn from 
General Greene, and embarked in boats at Dunk's ferry, 
proceed to Philadelphia, land at or near Spruce-street, 
pass through the common, and endeavour, with a part, 
to secure the bridge over the Schuylkill, and with the re- 
mainder attack the enemy in the rear of their lines. 

3. " That five hundred continental troops, with the 
militia under General Potter, should possess such of the 
hills on the other side of the Schuylkill, as command and 
enfilade the enemy's lines ; and while part of them carry 
on a brisk cannonade at that place, the rest should pro- 
ceed to the bridge, and await an opportunity of attack- 
ing the works there in front, when the party from Spruce- 
street attack in the rear." 

This plan, however, was not approved by the ma- 
jority, as the enemy's lines on the north side of the city 
extended from river to river, and were sustained by a 
chain of redoubts and other fortifications. Each of his 
flanks, moreover, was protected by a river, and his rear, 
by the junction of the two rivers. To attack the enemy 
under such circumstances was thought to require a great 
superiority of force. These considerations, and others of 

* Those against it were Greene, Sul- Portrail, and Armstrong ; those in fa- 
livan, Knox, De Kalb, Smalhvood, vour of it, Stirling, Wayne, Scott, and 
Maxwell, Poor, Patterson, Irvine, Du Woodford. 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 



179 



a similar tendency, induced General Washington to 
decide against the attack, though he had, in person, 
reconnoitred the enemy's position with the view of 
making it. 

The General officers differed widely also in regard 
to disposing of the army for the approaching winter ; 
and after a fruitless discussion in a council of war, the 
Commander-in-Chief decided, on his own judgment and 
responsibility, to establish a fortified camp at the Valley- 
Forge, upon the Schuylkill, about twenty miles from 
Philadelphia. After making the necessary preparations 
for a cantonment, surrounding it on the land side with 
entrenchments, and throwing a bridge across the river, 
the army took possession of its winter quarters, and re- 
mained in them until the following June. 



CHAPTER VII. 



1777-1778. 



It was during this winter that the intrigue, known^ 
from its principal contriver, as the Conway Cabal, was 
brought to light, principally through the instrumentality 
of Lord Stirling. Conway was an Irishman by birth, a 
Frenchman by education. He had served in the French 
army, and came to America, like many other foreign 
adventurers, to seek service in the Revolutionary army ; 
and if his claims were not supported by as strong recom- 
mendations as those of several others, his pretensions 
were as high as those of the most extravagant among 
them. By the combined force of his certificates and 
his effrontery, he obtained from Congress the commis- 
sions, first, of a Brigadier, and afterwards of a Major 
General, Not being so fortunate as to distinguish him- 
self by his military services or talents, he endeavoured 
to ingratiate himself with the Commander-in-Chief, by 
those arts of conciliation and flattery in which he was a 
gjreater adept, but which were not such sure passports to 
the favour of Washington. The disappointments he 
suffered, he dignified with the name of disgust ; and at- 
tached himself to those whose position or character as- 
sured him of sympathy, perhaps of revenge. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 18 1 

After some fruitless experiments upon others, lie 
found congenial spirits in Generals Gates and Mifflin ; 
both of whom had manifested symptoms of dissatisfac- 
tion as early as when the army lay at Cambridge. 
The former was at that time Adjutant General to the 
combined Provincial forces, with the rank of Brigadier ; 
the latter, who went there as an aid to the Commander- 
in-Chief, was subsequently appointed Quarter-Master- 
General with the rank of Colonel. Upon the organiza- 
tion of the Contitietital army, Gates applied to General 
Washington for the command of a brigade, and Mififlin 
for a regiment, in addition to their former appointments. 
Both were refused ; on the ground, in the first place, 
that the duties of their staff appointments required the 
whole of their attention ; and in the second, that such 
an indulgence would be invidious, and interfere with the 
just claims of other officers. The refusal, in both in- 
stances, evidently gave ofi'ence, and was never forgiven 
by either of the malcontents. 

The subsequent success of General Gates against 
Burgoyne — which he owed more to the preparatory ar- 
rangements and dispositions of General Schuyler, than 
to any merit of his own — was the signal for the conspir- 
ators to assume a bolder attitude in the prosecution of 
their plot ; to which, in the mean time, they had secur- 
ed the adhesion of some parties of inferior note. Among 
these was Colonel James Wilkinson, an aid-de-camp of 
General Gates, through whose convivial indiscretion the 
affiiir was brought to light. Wilkinson had been sent 
to Congress with despatches from General Gates, an- 
nouncing the success at Saratoga. On his way he stop- 
ped at Lord Stirling's head quarters at Reading in Penn- 



18^ THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING, 

sjlvania,* and at table after dinner, voluntarily and 
openly repeated verbally to Major Mc Williams, an aid 
of Lord Stirling's, a passage from a letter which Gates 
had received from his friend Conway, containing severe 
Strictures on General Washington's conduct in the man- 
agement of the war, with reflections disparae;ing to his 
military character and talents. Major McWilliams con- 
sidered it his duty to disclose the matter to Lord Stir- 
ling, who, in his turn, felt bound, in regard to the pub- 
lic interest as well as impelled by private friendship, to 
communicate it to General Washington. This he ac- 
cordingly did, in a note containing a memoirandum of the 
words from Conway's letter, as repeated to McWilliams 
by Wilkinson, as follows : " The enclosed was commu- 
nicated by Colonel Wilkinson to Major McWilliams ; 
such wicked duplicity I shall always consider it my duty 
to detect." In consequence of this disclosure, and with 
no other view than to show Conway that he was ap- 
prised of his intrigues. General Washington wrote to 
him, as follows : 

'^ Sir, — A letter which I received last night, contains 
the following paragraph : ' Heaven has determined to 
save your country, or a weak General and bad council- 
lors would have ruined it.' " 

A correspondence now ensued between Generals 
Washington, Gates and Conway.f The genuineness of 
the letter was denied by Conway; but the letter itself 
was not, at that time, produced. It was afterwards 
shown by General Gates, in confidence, to Mr. Henry 

* Wilkinson loitered so long on the Scotch, " I think ye'll better gie the 

road, that when it was proposed in Con- lad a pair of spurs." 
gress to vote him a sword as the bearer t See the correspondence in Sparks* 

of such auspicious intelligence, Dr. Writings of Washington, Vol. V. Ap- 

Witherspoori exclaimed, in his broad peiidix VI. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 1 33 

Laurens, the President of Congress, and some others ; 
and although it appeared not to have been exactly quoted 
by Major Mc Williams, yet, in substance, it proved the 
same. General Washington never communicated the 
letter of Lord Stirling, or the information it contained, to 
any officer of the army out of his own family, except the 
Marquis de La Fayette, and to him it was shown under 
an injunction of secrecy ; but from the circumstances 
attending the affair, it could not long be concealed.* 
Rumours respecting it got abroad, and the public senti- 
ment was expressed in a tone so indignant as to compel 
the conspirators to abandon their mischievous and ambi- 
tious projects. t 

Although there is no reason to believe that any other 
officers of the army were directly engaged in this con- 
spiracy, yet it is evident, from the proceedings of Con- 
gress, that it was favoured by a considerable party in that 
body.t A new Board of War with larger powers was 

* Anonymous letters were about the they not unexpectedly lost the majority 

same time addressed to the President of which they possessed when the measure 

Congress, and to Patrick Henry, then was determined on. At that time, there 

Governor of Virginia, ascribing the mis- were but two delegates in altendance 

fortunes of the campaign to tlie incapa- from New- York ; Francis Lewis, the 

city, or ill-timed Fabian policy of the father of the late General Morgan Lewis, 

Commander-in-Chief. . and William Duer, the son-in-law of 

t From the anxiety of each of the con- Lord Stirling — barely sufficient to enii- 

spirators to exonerate himself at tile ex- tie the State to a vote, if bolli were 

pense of the others, they fell out among present. But Mr. Duer was confined to 

themselves. his bed by a severe and dangerous ill- 

J It is related by Mr. Dunlap in his ness. His colleague, Mr. Lewis, had 

History of New- York, upon the auihori- sent an express for Mr. Gouverneur 

ty it is presumed of the late Genera! Morris, one of the absent members, vvho 

Morgan Lewis, that a day had been ap- had not however arrived on the morning 

pointed by the " Cabal," in Congress, of the day on which the motion was to 

for one of tiiem to move for a Committee have been made. Finding this to be the 

to proceed to the camp at Valley-Forge, case, Mr. D. inquired of liis physician, 

to arrest General Washington ; and that Dr. John Jones, whether it were possible 

the motion would have succeeded had for him to be carried to the Court-House 



184 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

soon afterwards instituted. General Gates was placed 
at its head, with Mifflin as a coadjutor, and Wilkinson, 
who had been brevetted a Brigadier, as Secretary. 
One of their first acts was to propose to Congress a new 
expedition to Canada, the plan of which was devised by 
Gates, and approved by Congress, without consulting 
the Commander-in-Chief. The office of Inspector Gen- 
eral, with the rank of Major General, had been previ- 
ously bestowed on Conway; but he had never entered 
upon its duties, and his promotion had given so much 
umbrage to the Brigadiers who were his seniors, that, in 
addition to the disgust excited by their knowledge of his 
machinations against General Washington, his situation 
was rendered so uncomfortable, that he withdrew from 
the army ; and, after the abandonment of the proposed 
expedition to Canada, in which he was to have been em- 
ployed, he resigned his commission as Inspector General 
from a conviction that the Commander-in-Chief would 
never call upon him to exercise its duties. A soldier of 
fortune, he became the victim of the irregular ambition 
and propensity to intrigue characteristic of such adven- 
turers. Having been wounded by an American officer* 
in a duel to which his turbulence gave rise, and appre- 
hending the near approach of death, he wrote to Gene- 
ral Washington expressing sorrow for his conduct ; but 

where Congress sat. The Doctor told else will — but I prefer your aid." The 

him it was possible, l)ut it would be at litter was prepared, and the sick man 

the risk of his life. " Do you mean," placed on it, when ihe arrival of Mr. 

said Mr. D.," that I should expire before Morris rendered the further use of it 

reaching the place 1" " No," replied unnecessary, and baffled the intrigue 

the Doctor, " but I would not answer that had induced its preparation. See 

for your leaving it alive." " Very wcU^ Hist, of N. Y. by Wm. Dunlap, Vol. 

sir," said Mr. D , " you have done your II. p. 133. 

duty, and I will do mine. Prepare a lit- * General Cadwallader, of New 

ter for me ; if you will not, somebody Jersey. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. I35 

he unexpectedly recovered and returned to France, 
where he was followed by the report of his misdeeds, 
and sunk into insignificance and neglect.* 

The account given of the Cabal by Wilkinson, in 
his " Memoirs," is, to say the least of it, most grossly in- 
accurate, and so contradictory and inconsistent in its par- 
ticulars, as to refiite itself. He represents his conversa- 
tion with Major McWilliams to have been held in the pre- 
sence and hearing of Lord Stirling — if not addressed to 
him personally. Lord Stirling having subsequently ascer- 
tained from Conway that he had inquired of Wilkinson 
whether he had seen the letter addressed by him to 
Gates, and that Wilkinson had declared that he had, 
and that it contained no such words as those he had re- 
peated, thereupon wrote to Wilkinson, stating the facts 
that Conway had communicated to him, and pointedly 
observed that he well knew that it was impossible that 
Wilkinson could have made such a declaration, but that 
it would give satisfaction to many of his friends to know 
whether Conway had made the inquiry ; and what had 
been his (Wilkinson's) answer ; and that they would also 
be glad to know, what loere the words of the letter, of 
which he (Lord Stirling) "would be very much obliged 
to him for a copy." 

This letter Wilkinson says he received at Albany, 
and subjoins a very impertinent answer, which if not 

* His friend Wilkinson also gave he found it impossible to serve under 

up his brevet of Brigadier, when ap- hitn." (See his Memoirs ) He still 

pointed Secretary to the Board of War, retained his rank of Colonel in the 

from a cause similar lo that which pro- army, and, in 1779, was appointed 

duced Conway's resignation, though he Clothier General. His subsequent course 

says himself, '^from motives of patriot- corresponded with this beginning. He 

ism," and because " after the acts of intrigued with Burr as he did with 

treachery and falsehood in which he Conway ; and betrayed him as he did 

had detected the President of the Board, Gates. 



185 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

fabricated for the purposes of his narrative, it is very 
clear, from the subsequent correspondence, that if ever 
sent it could never have been received by Lord Stirling. 
Of this, indeed, Wilkinson admits the possibility ; and 
it is equally clear, from what follows, that he has sup- 
pressed a letter from Lord Stirling to himself. When 
he reached Lancaster, after leaving Reading on his way 
to York in Pennsylvania, where Congress was sitting, 
he learnt, he says, that General Gates had denounced 
him, in the grossest terms, as the betrayer of Conway's 
letter ; and believing that the exposition of his corres- 
pondence with Lord Stirling would aid him in procuring 
an explanation from* Gates, he sought one by letter. 
But instead of obtaining it, he received an answer from 
his former friend and patron, which he describes as 
" cruel and insulting." In this answer General Gates 
gives the substance of a letter he had received from 
General Washington, informing him of Wilkinson's dis- 
closure of Conway's letter, of its communication by 
Major McWilliams to Lord Stirling, and by Lord Stir- 
ling to General Washington ; which letter of Gates con- 
cluded with the following paragraph : " After reading 
the whole of the above extract, I am astonished — if you 
really gave Major McWilliams such information — how 
you could intimate to me that it was possible Colonel 
Troup* had conversed with Colonel Hamiltonf on the 
subject of Conway's letter." Upon receiving this letter, 
Wilkinson says he challenged General Gates. If so, it 

* Also an aid to General Gates. knew Troup to be too much of a man 

+ Then an aid to General Washing- of honour to make such a communica- 

ton. Wilkinson's object in this insinu- tion — and if he were not, that Hamil- 

ation was, of course, to transfer to his ton was the last person to whom he 

colleague the disgrace of the disclosure, would have ventured to make it. 
But the atempt was desperate, as Gates 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. IQ7 

must have been because he could confirm his veracity in 
no other way. But the whole story, as he relates it, ap- 
pears incredible upon its very face. According to his 
statement, which partakes more of the ridiculous than 
of the pathetic, at which he evidently aimed. Gates 
accepted the challenge ; and when Wilkinson was on 
his way to the place of meeting, with his second, he was 
stopped, he says, by a friend, who requested that he 
would follow him, which he did, to a place where he 
found General Gates alone. The General received him 
" with much tenderness, but manifest embarrassment," 
and requested him to walk with him in a back street. 
After proceeding together some distance in silence. 
Gates burst into tears, and asked him, " how he could 
think that " he (Gates) " wished to injure him ?" 
Wilkinson says, he " was too deeply affected to speak," 
and Gates relieved him by exclaiming, " I injure you ! 
It is impossible ; I should as soon think of injuring my 
own child." " This language not only disarmed me," 
says Wilkinson, " but awakened all my confidence, and 
all my tenderness." He was, however, silent, while the 
General added — " besides there was 710 cause for injming 
you, for Conway acknowledged his letter, and has since 
said much harsher things to Washington's face." This 
Wilkinson declares was " satisfactory " to him, " beyond 
expectation,'^'^ and a long and friendly conversation took 
place between the parties to the intended duel, in the 
absence, by the bye, of their seconds, in which it was 
" settled " that Wilkinson " should attend at the War 
Office, in his capacity of Secretary, for a few days, and 
then have leave to visit the camp at Valley-Forge, ichere 
Lord Stirling was quartered. ^^ 

Upon Wilkinson's presenting himself at the War 



188 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Office, however, the "tenderness" of General Gates seems 
to have evaporated ; for the Secretary complains that 
his reception " by the President of the Board did not 
correspond with his recent professions ; and that 
although at a loss to account for his coldness," he " had 
no suspicion of his sincerity." After remaining a few 
days at his post he set off on his errand to Valley-Forge, 
where, after lingering a fortnight at Lancaster, under the 
influence of a passion more " tender" than the mutual 
affection between himself and his General, he arrived on 
the 16tb or 17th of February. He applied to his 
" friend Colonel Moylan," (when, he does not say,) to 
deliver "a peremptory message" to Lord Stirling, "on 
the ground of his Lordship's having misrepresented his 
conduct to the prejudice of his honour.'^'' But from this 
he was dissuaded by his friend, and consented instead 
to send the following note ; dated, it will be perceived, 
a full month after his arrival at camp. 

Colonel James Wilkinson to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Moore-hall, March 28th, 1778. 

" My Lord,— The propriety or impropriety of com- 
municating any circumstance that passed at your Lord- 
ship's board at Reading, I leave to be determined by 
your own feelings, and the judgment of the public ; but 
as the affair has eventually induced reflections on my 
integrity, the sacred duty I owe my honour obliges me 
to require from your Lordship's hand that the conversa- 
tion you have published, passed in private company, 
during a convivial hour*. Colonel Moylan, who delivers 
this, is my friend, and will receive your reply. 

" I am, &c." 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 289 

As it would have been difficult to discover in this 
note any charge against Lord Stirling, " on the ground 
of having misrepresented the conduct" of the author, 
his Lordship could have had no hesitation in giving him 
the following answer, which Wilkinson avers to have 
been " satisfactory, and sufficient to establish his inno- 
cence, though not consistent with the information given 
by Lord Stirling to General Washington." As the let- 
ter in question merely communicated the extract from 
that of Conway to Gates, as repeated by Wilkinson 
to McWilliams, with no other information from Lord 
Stirling than his having received it from McWilliams, 
it is not so easy to discover upon what ground Wilkin- 
son rests his charge of inconsistency against the person 
selected for his adversary, as to detect it in himself. 
He made the disclosure, not to Lord Stirling, but to 
Major McWilliams, who communicated it to Lord Stir- 
ling. If, therefore, there were any breach of confidence 
in the case, he should have called upon McWilliams, and 
not upon Lord Stirling, for redress. He felt, however, 
no great resentment against either of them ; but rather 
suffi?red himself to be used by Gates as an instrument 
of revenge against Lord Stirling, for the exposure of his 
" wicked duplicity " to General Washington. Wilkin- 
son, indeed, seems to have considered the gravamen of 
Lord Stirling's offence as consisting not so much in any 
" misrepresentation of his conduct," in regard to the 
disclosure itself, as in communicating what had trans- 
pired " in a convivial hour." He evidently sought to 
avail himself of the excess of his conviviality, as an ex- 
cuse for the treachery charged against him by Gates. 
But to enable the. reader to form his own judgment upoQ 



190 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

the point, the answer to Wilkinson's note is subjoined, 
from his own version.* 



M. G. the Earl of Stirling to ^^ James Wilkinson, Esq.^^ 

"March 18th, 1778. 

" Sir, — As to the propriety of my communicating to 
General Washington a circumstance that transpired in 
conversation at Reading, I have not the least doubt ; nor 
can 1 conceive that your having mentioned that extraor- 
dinary paragraph will ever injure your honour. 

" However that may be, I shall ever be ready to aver 
the truth, and equally ready to give you the satisfaction 
of having it under my hand that the words that I did 
communicate to his Excellency, " passed in a private 
convers<?^iion in a convivial hour ;" but under no injunc- 
tion of secrecy. As to my having published it, 1 do not 
know that I have ever mentioned it since, until lately, 
when a certain gentleman asserted in company, that you 
had denied that you had ever had any such conversation. 
This put me under the necessity of asserting the con- 
trary ; and of this 1 immediately wrote you, being sure 
you would never deny it. By your silence on that head, 
I must conclude you never received my letter. 

" I am, &c." 

* The correspondence between the ed his word it is a wicked and mali- 

parties is, from necessity, taken from cious forgery, I will stake my reputa- 

Wilkinson's Memoirs, as no trace of it tion, if the genuine letter is produced, 

appears among Lord Stirling's papers, that words to the same effect will ap- 

A letter of Wilkinson's addressed to pear ; else how could Conway acknow- 

General Washington, under date of 28th ledge to Colonel Stewart, that he had 

March, 1778, referring to this passage written such a letter; or how could 

of Conway's, concludes as follows ; — Dr. Hutchinson have heard this identi- 

" However,! so well remember its tenor cal passage mentioned in Philadelphia, 

that, although General Gates has pledg- before he left that city V 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. J9| 

After giving this letter, Wilkinson quotes the follow- 
ing extract of one fi-om General Washington to Lord 
Stirling, as " manifesting the interest taken by the for- 
mer in his (Wilkinson's) hehalfy 

General fVashington to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

"Valley-Forge, March 21st, 1778. 

"My Lord, — In answer to jour favour of this date, 
give ine leave to saj that I am well pleased with the 
termination of jour correspondence with Colonel Wil- 
kinson. I sent for that gentleman after the conversation 
1 had with jour Lordship, and showed him the letters 
Mr. Harrison* furnished jou with a sight of. He seemed 

a good deal surprised at G 's letters, and not at all 

sparing 6f abuse of him and Conwaj."t 

Such is the representation of the afifliir bj Wilkin- 
son himself, and these are the documents he adduces to 
support it. How far the one is sustained bj the others, 
the reader will determine. How far the correspondence 
maj be relied on as genuine, is not so easj to decide, 
especiallj as it appears probable, from some observations 
of Lord Stirling's, that parts if not whole letters have 
been suppressed, and several passages in those given 
altered. The former supposition derives some confir- 
mation from the time that elapsed between Wilkinson's 
arrival at the camp, and the date of his first letter. Ad- 
mitting, however, the whole correspondence to be fairlj 
and correctlj given, it not onlj fails to sustain the re- 
proach sought to be cast upon Lord Stirling, but leaves 
it doubtful whether Gates, Conwaj, or Wilkinson him- 

* Tlie private Secretary of General t See Wilkinson's Memoirs, Vol. I. 
Washington. pp. 382-393. 



]92 Trite LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

self deserves the greater condemnation. The latter 
struggles to exculpate himself at the expense both of 
his accomplice and of his benefactor ; failing in this, he 
turns upon the person through whom his treachery was 
exposed, and is met by a rebuff, of which the effect is 
manifest from his impotent efforts to repress the con- 
sciousness of the despicable figure he had exhibited. 
The following extract of a letter from a delegate in 
Congress from New Jersey, relates to the transaction 
in which Wilkinson bore so conspicuous a part, and 
refers to the disgust created by both his and Conway's 
promotion. 



Abraham Clark to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Yorktown, January 15th, 1778. 

" My Lord, — * * * * Your Lordship mentions 
the want of military merit in a gentleman lately pro- 
moted. I had always before heard him mentioned as 
having great military abilities ; and this is all I had ever 
heard concerning him. The kind of correspondence he 

carried on with General G , was not however known 

at the time of his promotion. Had his letter to General 
Washington been before them. Congress would have 
probably acted otherwise. Dissensions among the oflfi- 
cers of the army must be very injurious to the public 
interest. I cannot say what Congress will do. By the 
letters sent to them, an appeal seems to be made, which, 
I trust, will be carefully attended to. The authority and 
credit of the Commander-in-Chief must be supported. 

" Upon such a disagreeable subject as is contained 
in General Gates's letter to General Washington, I re- 
ceived some consolation in finding the offence so highly 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



193 



complained of fall somewhere, — upon a person for whom 
General Gates's unbounded friendship and earnest solici- 
tations had procured a promotion very injurious and dis- 
gustful to the army. I was not in Congress at that time, 
but I think the measure injudicious. To remedy this 
hasty step, Congress lately took Mr. VV. from the mili- 
tary line, by appointing him Secretary to the Board of 
War, of which Mr. Gates is President. What will be 
done with him next, I cannot say. If he betrayed the 
confidence of his patron, he may do the same by his 
country ; and from the opinion Mr. Gates seems to have 
of such a character, I think he will not hereafter choose 
to have him near his person." 

The subsequent part of this letter relates to another 
important subject which then engaged the attention of 
Congress, and is characteristic both of the writer and 
times. 

" As the reduction of the battalions is become neces- 
sary, a Committee of Congress and three of the Board 
of War are going to the army for that purpose. It is 
said many good officers are weary of the service, and 
wish to resign, unless they are put on a permanent es- 
tablishment. That they are weary and wish for ease, 
I do not wonder ; but who that are either in the civil or 
military department are not weary, and do not wish for 
retirement ? The service in every part is severe. Con- 
gress sit night and day, taking little rest. Must we all 
therefore resign ? This is no time to talk of ease and 
retirement ; let us first establish our liberties — our de- 
sires of ease will then be obtained. I do not mention 
this as applicable to your Lordship. I never heard of 



194 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



your desire to turn your back upon a service the most 
noble and glorious. Some, however, do it. We all en- 
gaged, I hope, on patriotic principles ; may the same, 
separate from every lucrative and ambitious view,'.carry us 
through this contest ! 

" I am, &c." 

The number of troops agreed on by the Committees 
of Congress and of the Board of War, upon their visit 
to the Valley-Forge, was forty thousand, besides artillery 
and horse ; but when, on the 8th of May, a Council of 
War was called to determine upon future operations, it 
was found that the army, including the detachments on 
the North River and elsewhere, did not exceed fifteen 
thousand ; nor was it believed that it could be raised 
higher than twenty thousand ; while the British force 
in New-York and Philadelphia amounted to near thirty 
thousand, besides a detachment of three thousand four 
hundred at Rhode Island. These numbers were much 
larger than was supposed by the Council of War, when 
considering the question submitted to them by the Com- 
mander-in-Chief, — whether it was expedient to take the 
field, and act on the defensive, or wait until the plans of 
the enemy were more fully developed, and then be 
guided by circumstances. On that occasion the ene- 
my's force at Philadelphia w^as estimated at ten thousand, 
in New-York at four thousand, and at Rhode Island at 
two thousand r upon this basis the question was dis- 
cussed ; and upon that estimate, it was decided, with 
great unanimity, against any scheme of offensive opera- 
tions. 

It was not long, however, before afiairs assumed a 
new, and more favourable aspect. Sir William Howe, 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. ] 95 

was recalled in accordance with his own request, and 
was succeeded by Sir Henry Clinton. The treaty of alli- 
ance between France and the United States raised the 
hopes of America, and, being regarded by Great Britain 
as a declaration of war against her on the part of France, 
produced a change in the plans of the English Ministers 
for carrying on hostilities. A sudden descent on the 
French possessions in the West Indies was resolved on ; 
and to aid in its execution. Sir Henry Clinton was or- 
dered to detach five thousand men from his army, — to 
send three thousand more to Florida, and to withdraw 
with the remainder to New-York.* 

Having shipped his cavalry, and some other troops, 
with his provision train and heavy baggage, he prepared 
to march through New Jersey, with the main body of his 
forces. As soon as his evacuation of Philadelphia, which 
took place on the 18th of June, was known at the Valley- 
Forge, Generals Leef and Wayne, each at the head of a 
division, were ordered to pass the Delaware at Coryell's 
ferry, and to halt on the first strong ground on the Jer- 
sey side. General Washington himself soon followed, 
and within six days the whole army had crossed the 
river, and arrived at Hopewell in the neighbourhood of 
Princeton. The British General, after crossing at Glou- 
cester point, had moved slowly on through Haddonficld 
and Mount Holly, until he reached Crosswicks and Allen- 
town ; and it was not until after he had actually arrived 
at the latter place that he determined upon the direc- 

* This last movement probably arose ridge, to which he had repaired for the 

from the supposition that a French night in advance ofthe army on its former 

fleet would soon appear in the Dela- march through Jersey. It was spoken 

V(>are. of by Lord Stirling as "one of Lee's 

t He had lately been exchanged, eccentric movements, and only remark- 
having been made prisoner at Basken- able from its direction." 



195 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

tion he should take when he left it. It was at first his 
intention to proceed to the Raritan, and embark his 
troops at New Brunswick, or South Amboy ; but finding 
General Washington, who, in the mean time had ad- 
vanced to Kingston, almost in his front, he turned to his 
right, and took the road leading to Sandy Hook. 

On the morning of the 28th, he was encamped in a 
strong position near Monmouth Court-House, and Gen- 
eral Washington was approaching him. When the latter 
had advanced to within six or seven miles of the British 
encampment, he was informed that Sir Henry Clinton 
had abandoned it and was then on his march to the 
ocean. The American army was instantly put in motion, 
and General Lee, who commanded the advanced detach- 
ments, amounting to five thousand men, was ordered to 
commence the attack, " unless there should be very 
powerful reasons to the contrary ;" and he was at the 
same time informed by General Washington that he 
would come up as soon as possible to his support. 

After he had marched about five miles, Washington 
learnt, to his surprise and mortification, that Lee was 
retreating without having made any opposition to the 
enemy, except one fire from a party which had been 
charged by the British cavalry. This movement was 
the more alarming, as General Lee, without giving any 
notice of his retreat, was marching his troops directly 
upon the rear division, to the imminent hazard of throw- 
ing the whole army into confusion, at the very moment 
too when the enemy was pressing upon it with unim- 
peded force. General Washington rode immediately to 
the rear of the retreating division, where he found Gen- 
eral Lee, whom he accosted with a warmth of language 
which he rarely used, and in a manner indicative of the 









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THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. ]97 

highest displeasure. He ordered the division to be 
re-formed and brought immediately into action. Lee 
promptly obeyed ; but it was not without difficulty that 
the order of battle could be restored in time to check 
the advance of the enemy. A new disposition of the 
left wing and second line of the army was then made, 
on an eminence, partly in a wood, and covered by a 
morass in front. 

The rear division, which formed the left wing of the 
army, was commanded by Lord Stirling, who placed his 
batteries so as to play upon the enemy with great effect, 
and with the aid of his infantry to put a stop to their 
advance. General Greene, who commanded the right 
wing, on hearing of Lee's retreat marched up, and took 
an advantageous position on the right; upon which the 
enemy attempted to turn Lord Stirling's left flank, but 
were repulsed and driven back. A similar attempt 
on the right wing was as bravely met by Greene, and was 
equally successful. While this was going on, General 
Wayne advanced with a body of infantry, and kept up 
so hot and well directed a fire upon the enemy's front, 
that they retired behind a marshy ravine, to the ground 
they had occupied at the commencement of the engage- 
ment. 

It was night before the dispositions for attacking 
them in that position could be made ; and, with the 
view of renewing the contest the next morning, the 
American troops were directed to lie upon their arms 
on the field. When the morning dawned no enemy was 
to be seen. Sir Henry Clinton had silently retired in 
the night towards Middletovvn, and before he could again 
be attacked, had reached Sandy Hook, where he em- 
barked his troops on board the fleet which lay there in 



198 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

readiness to receive them, and thus were they conveyed 
again to New-York. The American army was then 
marched round to the Hudson, which it crossed at King's 
ferry, whence it marched on, and encamped at the 
AVhite Plains. 

Stung by the language Washington had used to him 
on the field of battle. General Lee, after a disrespect- 
ful and offensive correspondence with the Commander- 
in-Chief, demanded a Court Martial. He was ac- 
cordingly placed under arrest, and a Court Martial was 
summoned, of which Lord Stirling was President. It 
sat for three weeks while the army was on its march to 
the Hudson, and finally declared General Lee guilty on 
all the charges preferred against him, which were, 1st, 
Disobedience of orders, in not attacking the enemy ac- 
cording to repeated instruction ; 2d, Misbehaviour before 
the enemy, in making an unnecessary and disorderly 
retreat ; and 3d, Disrespect towards the Commander- 
in-Chief, in two letters written after the action. The 
sentence of the Court, suspending him from his com- 
mand for a twelvemonth, was approved by Congress ; 
and General Lee left the army for Philadelphia, where 
he resided until his death, four years afterwards, without 
having been again called into service. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

1778-1781. 

Before the army crossed the Hudson, General 
Washington had heard of the arrival of the French fleet 
under the Count D'Estaing. No time was lost in offering 
his congratulations to the admiral, and proposing to him to 
co-operate against the common enemy. An attack upon 
New-York was first contemplated, but the pilots refus- 
ed to take the responsibility of conducting the heavy 
ships of the French over the bar at Sandy Hook. The 
fleet then proceeded to Newport, and upon the failure of 
the land expedition against that place, in consequence 
of the dissensions between the American and French 
oflicers, the French Admiral proceeded to Boston, to re- 
pair the damages his ships had sustained from a tremen- 
dous storm, and a partial engagement with the enemy, 
upon his outward passage. 

While in camp at White Plains, Lord Stirling ob- 
tained permission for his lady to visit her eldest daugh- 
ter, whose husband, Mr. Robert Watts, had taken no 
active part on either side in the Revolution, and remained 
quietly in the city of New-York. The letters of Lady 
Stirling and her youngest daughter, who accompanied 
her, describing this visit, may not be devoid of general 
interest, as they exhibit the situation and temper of those 



200 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Americans who had continued in the city during its oc- 
cupation bj the enemy. 

The Countess of Stirling to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Elizabethtown, August 24th, 1778. 

" My Dear Lord, — I returned last night from New- 
York. We were received with great politeness by Gen- 
eral Maxwell and Mr. Caldwell at the point, and con- 
ducted to Mr. Smith, who received us very politely. 
The Governor [Livingston, her brother] has promised 
to provide us a carriage to get home in to-day. We left 
Mr. Watts, Mary, and her little girl, very well. She 
longs to see you, and wishes to be with me, but duty to 
her husband must keep her where she is. 

" The commanding officer at Staten Island sent a 
sergeant over with us to New- York, with orders that we 
should go to G. Jones to ask his permission to go to 
Mr. Watts. I desired Mr. Rutherfurd* to go for us, and 
we were permitted. The next day Mr. W. carried your 
letter to head-quarters, and about ten days afterwards 
General Clinton sent a card to Mr. Watts, desiring him 
to let him know when we arrived in town, for he intend- 
ed to show us all the civility in his power. We never 
heard from him again until I applied for a pass to leave 
town ; then Mr. Elliotf came with Sir Henry's compli- 
ments that he was sorry he had not had it in his power 
to call on us before, but that he would endeavour to do 
it before we left town, for old acquaintance sake ; — but 
we heard no more of him. So much for that. 

* Walter Rutherfurd, a brother-in- teemed and respected both by Whigs 

law of Lord Stirling's. and Tories, for his integrity of charac- 

t Andrew Elliot, Collector of the ter, and the urbanity of his manners, 
port under the Crown, and highly es- 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 201 

" Mr. Elliot called on us the day after we got to town 
and offered me liberty to take any thing out of town 1 
pleased, for which I thanked him, and told him, I was 
only come to see my daughter ; which I thought most 
prudent, for I was afraid there would be a handle made 
of it, if I accepted the offer. All his family came to see 
us, and he sent me the same offer by several people : the 
last time I saw him he told me I must take a box of tea, 
but I stuck to my text. Lord Drummond,* Chief Jus- 
tice Smith,t and Mr. N. Bayard,! were our constant 
visitors, and desired to be remembered to you. 

" I was happy to hear from General M. that you 
was well last week. I sent my love to you by Colonel 
Bunner. I am obliged to conclude, as it is time to set 
off. Write to me as soon as possible. Kate joins in 
love to you. She will write to you when we get home. 

" I am, &c." 

Lady Catharine Alexander^ to M, G. the Earl of Stir- 
ling. 

"Parsippany,|| August, 1778. 

" I have made several attempts to obey an injunction 
laid upon me by my dear Papa, in a letter to General 
Maxwell, but have always been interrupted, or entirely 
prevented by trivial accidents, which, though important 
enough to prevent my writing, are scarce worth men- 

* Eldest son of the Earl of Perth, t The late Alderman Bayard — ovvn- 

who visited America to look after his er of Bayard's farm, now in the heart 

father's interests as a Proprietor of East of the city of New-York. 

Jersey. § Afterwards married to Colonel 

t William Smith, the historian of William Duer. 

New-York,— afterwards Chief Justice || Where Gov. Livingston's family 

of Canada, an early and intimate friend had taken refuge from Elizabethtown 

of Lord Stirling's. on its invasion by the British. 



202 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

tionirig to jou. Colonel Livingston going to camp, at 
last furnishes me with an opportunity of acquainting you 
with every thing that my memory retains of our jaunt to 
New- York. 

" In the first place we had the satisfaction of being 
treated civilly by the British officers. One indignity, 
indeed, we received from General Grant,* who ordered 
a sergeant to conduct the Flag to town, instead of an 
officer ; but we were so happy at getting permission to 
go on, that we readily excused this want of politeness. 
Our acquaintances in town were very polite to us : many, 
indeed, were remarkably attentive ; but whether it pro- 
ceeded from regard to themselves, or us, is hard to de- 
termine. The truth is, they are a good deal alarmed at 
their situation, and wish to make as much interest as 
possible on our side. The sentiments, I really believe, 
of a great number, have undergone a thorough change, 
since they have been with the British army ; as they 
have many opportunities of seeing flagrant acts of injus- 
tice and cruelty which they could not have believed 
their friends capable of, if they had not been eye-wit- 
nesses of their conduct. This convinces them, that if 
they conquer, we must live in abject slavery. 

" Mamma has, I suppose, mentioned to you the dis- 
tressed situation in which we found poor Mary. The 
alarms of the fire, and of the explosion, added to her 
recent misfortune, kept her for several days in a very 
weak state ; but Ave had the satisfaction to leave her 
perfectly recovered. The child she now has is one of 
the most charming little creatures I ever saw, and by all 
accounts is more likely to live than either of the others. 

* The same who had been opposed to Lord S., at the battle of L. I. 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 



203 



Mr. Watts, I am happy to find, is among the number of 
those who are heartily sick of British tyranny; and as 
to Mary, her political principles are perfectly rebellious. 
Several gentlemen of your former acquaintance in the 
British army made particular inquiries after you. Co- 
lonel Cosmo Gordon, brother to the Duchess, was very 
desirous of making acquaintance with us on your account, 
but we happened, unfortunately, to be abroad whenever 
he called upon us. The Chief Justice, Lord Drummond, 
Mr. Barrow, and several'others, begged to be remember- 
ed to you. Lord Drummond is very anxious to have 
his character cleared with respect to his parole : he says 
you know the circumstances, and wishes you would 
persuade the General to take the matter into considera- 
tion.* 1 believe his Lordship would be very happy to 



* Lord Drummond, as has been 
mentioned, came to America to look 
after the affairs of his father as a Pro- 
prietary of East Jersey. At an earlier 
period he had made an unsuccessful at- 
tempt to produce a reconciliation be- 
tween the mother country and the Col- 
onies ; but afterwards seems to have 
lost the confidence of the whigs of 
New York, from his intimacy with 
Governor Tryon, and some of the lead- 
ing tories in that city. The Commit- 
tee of Safety, therefore, exacted from 
him hia parole of honour, that he would 
hold no correspondence directly or in- 
directly with those who were in arms 
against the Colonies, nor go into any 
port or harbour occupied by the enemy, 
nor on board their ships. He subse- 
quently obtained permission from the 
Committee, to visit Bermuda for the 
benefit of his health ; but was not, by 
this indulgence, to be further released 
from hia parole. In his zeal, however. 



to effect a pacification, he imprudently 
went on board the Asia man-of-war, 
on his way to sea ; and on his return, 
three or four months afterwards, when 
the British fleet lay in the harbour, he 
visited Lord Howe with the same view. 
He drew up a set of Articles, which he 
submitted to Lord Howe, who approved 
them, whereupon they were transmit- 
ted by Lord Drummond in a letter, to 
General Washington — who, considering 
that Lord Druinmond's conduct in go- 
ing on board the enemy's ships of war, 
a breach of his parole, objected to the 
mode of negociationhe had proposed. He 
however submitted all the papers to 
Congress, but the decision of that body 
was, to take no notice of Lord Drum- 
mond or his negociation, and to ap- 
prove of the course adopted towards 
him by General Washington. See 
Sparks' Writings of IVashington, Vol. 
III. pp. 288 and 525, and Vol. IV. p. 
51. 



204 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

become an American subject if the British Parliament 
would condescend to accede to our Independence, and 
he is therefore very solicitous to secure our good graces. 
" Upon the whole, I think we may call our jaunt 
a very agreeable one, though it was chequered with some 
unlucky circumstances. For my own part, I liked it so 
well, that I could wish to repeat it in a few months, if 
my sister does not get permission to pay us a visit. I 
left Mamma very well two days ago, to pay a visit to the 
Governor's [Livingston's] family, who sent the Colonel 
with an absolute command to fetch me. They all beg 
to be remembered to you. 

« I am, &c." 

On the 15th of October, Lord Stirling repaired to 
Elizabethtown, whither he was ordered to take command 
of the troops stationed in New Jersey to watch the mo- 
tions of the British fleet and army at New- York ; and 
on this service he was employed until the army went 
into winter quarters. At the opening of the campaign 
of 1779, he was ordered to march with the Virginia 
division under his command, to Pompton Plains, and to 
cover the country between that station and the lines be- 
low, extending to the Hudson. Major Henry Lee, who 
with his corps of light-horse was attached to Lord Stir- 
ling's command, was directed by him, in pursuance of 
orders from the Commander-in-Chief, to watch the mo- 
tions of the main body of the British army. In his 
incursions, which extended as low down as the Hacken- 
sack, he obtained intelligence that the enemy's troops at 
Powles' Hook, were extremely remiss in watchfulness, 
from the security they felt in the difficult access to their 
post, and its distance from the nearest body of Conti- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



205 



nental troops. These circumstances sujjgested to Major 
Lee the project of surprising and carrying off the gar- 
rison. A detachment from Lord Stirling's division, in- 
cluding three hundred men specially designed for the 
enterprise, was ordered down the country as a foraging 
party; which, being usual, excited no suspicion. Lord 
Stirling himself followed with five hundred men, and 
took post at the Hackensack bridge, in readiness to af- 
ford the assistance that might be necessary. 

About three o'clock the next morning, Major Lee, 
with his detachment, succeeded in carrying the main 
work at Powles' Hook, with a trifling loss, and made 
upwards of one hundred and fifty prisoners. But the 
British commandant threw himself, with forty or fifty 
Hessians, into a strong redoubt, which it was thought 
un advisable to attack, as it might endanger the retreat 
of the party. The alarm had already reached New- 
York ; upon perceiving which. Major Lee determined 
not to hazard the loss of his detachment, and immedi- 
ately brought off his troops and prisoners. The original 
plan contemplated his retreat across the Hackensack, at 
a point below the bridge, and nearer to Powles' Hook, 
as being more secure than the route by which he had 
advanced ; but finding that the boats which had been 
ordered to that spot had been withdrawn, through the 
stupidity of the officer in charge of them, he despatched 
a horseman with the information to Lord Stirling. For- 
tunately his Lordship had previously been apprised of 
the probability of the disappointment, and had taken the 
precaution to detach Colonel Bull, with two hundred 
fresh troops, to meet Lee and cover his retreat. On 
making his report of the affair to the Commander-in- 
Chief, Lord Stirling received from him a letter, express- 



206 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

ing his thanks, and requesting them to be given to the 
officers and troops concerned in the expedition. He 
received also the thanks of Congress.* 

After the army had gone into v^^inter quarters at 
Morristovvn, in January, 1780, Lord Stirling was de- 
tached, at the head of about two thousand five hundred 
men, to attack the British force on Staten Island. He 
crossed with his party from Dehart's Point, on the Jer- 
sey shore, on the morning of the 15th, and marched 
towards the enemy's works in the interior of the Island. 
But his movements being discovered, the enemy were 
prepared to receive him, and their works were so well 
situated, and appeared so strong, that an assault was 
thought unadvisable. Contrary to expectation a free pas- 
sage was found to be open by water to New-York, and 
during the day the British were reinforced from the city ; 
whereupon Lord Stirling made good his retreat to Eliza- 
bethtown. There was some skirmishing however by 
the way, two or three men were killed on each side, and 
a few prisoners made by the Americans. 

While the detachment continued on the Island, a 
number of persons passed over from the main, and plun- 
dered the inhabitants ; but Lord Stirling ordered a strict 
search to be made for the plundered articles, and took 
measures for restoring them to their owners. 

During a visit to his residence at Baskenridge, he 



» The following are the Resolutions "J?esoZ«c(Z, that the thanks of Congress 

passed on the occasion, viz. : " In Con- be given to Major General Lord Stir- 

gress, September 24th, 1779. Resolved, ling, for the judicious measures taken by 

that the thanks of Congress be given to him, to forward the enterprise, and se- 

his Excellency General Washington for cure the retreat of the party." 
ordering, with so much wisdom, the late 
attack upon the enemy's fort and works 
at Paulus Hook." 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



207 



addressed the following letter to the Coinmaiider-in- 
Chief:— 



M. G. the Earl of Stirling to General Washington. 

" Baskenridge, March 24th, 1780. 

" Dear Sir, — 1 duly received your letter of the 22d, 
accompanied by an extract of a letter from Governor 
Livingston, with twelve copies of the " Act for recruit- 
ing the number of men therein mentioned," within this 
State. I immediately requested all the field officers in 
camp, belonging to the three Jersey regiments, to meet 
General Maxwell at his quarters, in order to fix upon 
twelve of the most proper officers to carry the law into 
execution in the different counties in this State ; which 
they were to finish yesterday evening. In the mean 
time I drew up the inclosed instructions, — twelve copies 
of which were made, — and sent them with the laws to 
Colonel Barber, who has promised me to fill up the blanks, 
and to see the recruiting officers sent off in the best 
manner, and as soon as possible : I expect they will be 
off to-morrow if the weather permits. 

" 1 hope your Excellency will find the instructions 
as explicit as you intended. As soon as I get from Colo- 
nel Barber the return of the officers' names and ranks, 
and the diffiirent counties they are sent to, I will for- 
ward it to your Excellency. 

« I am, &c." 

On the 23d of June, a British army of five thousand 
men, under General Knyphausen, marched by two differ- 
ent routes from New- York, and advanced with great 
rapidity towards Springfield. Colonel Dayton was des- 



208 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

patched against one of the columns, and Major Lee 
against the other ; and they both made all possible op- 
position to the progress of the enemy, while General 
Greene concentrated at Springfield the different corps 
under his command, which had been distributed through 
the country for the purpose of guarding the roads lead- 
ing through the passes in the mountains behind that 
place. Upon receiving information of the enemy's ap- 
proach. Lord Stirling issued orders to Colonel Ludlow to 
collect the militia from his neighbourhood, and march 
with them to reinforce General Greene. Upon their 
return, he received the following account of the enemy's 
proceedings, with a request to recall his orders to the 
militia. 

Major General Greene to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

'• Connecticut Farms, June 23d, 1780. > 
"5 o'clock P.M. ^ 

" My Lord, — Your letter was handed me by Colo- 
nel Ludlow. The enemy advanced this morning and 
forced their way into Springfield. They were warmly 
opposed by several corps of the army, and after burning 
almost every house in the town they retreated. We are 
now pressing their rear, but the principal part of their 
army has reached Elizabethtown. 

" I wish you to countermand your orders to the mili- 
tia. Their services will not be wanted at this time. 

" 1 am, &c." 

On the next day Lord Stirling accordingly issued an 
order to the militia to return to their homes — except 
such of them as were to go on a retour of duty under 
General Dickinson. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. OQO 

No similar inroad was again made by the enemy, in 
consequence, probably, of intelligence received by Sir 
Henry Clinton that a formidable fleet and army from 
France was expected on the coast. Their arrival was 
not long afterwards announced ; and, in the absence of 
Sir Henry, with the flower of his army, on an expedi- 
tion against Rhode Island, an attack on New-York was 
arranged between General Washington and the French 
General, the Compte de Rochambeau. The execution 
of it was, however, prevented by the return of the British 
force from Rhode Island. In the following September 
this plan seems to have been revived. A Council of 
War was held on the subject, and the written opinions 
of its members requested bj' the Commander-in-Chief 
to be delivered to him the next day. The following 
was presented by Lord Stirling : — 

" In obedience to your Excellency's request in Coun- 
cil the 6th instant, I now give you my opinion on the 
several questions stated, viz. : 

" That since there is still a very high probability of 
the second division's arriving from France, and of our 
soon having a superiority of naval force in these seas, we 
ought to adhere to our original plan for this campaign of 
co-operating with our allies, and with our whole force, 
for the reduction of New- York ; and then pursuing such 
other objects as the season of the year and the climates 
of the seats of operation will best admit. By departing 
from this plan, we risk every thing ; we can then have 
no other objects in view but what lie at a great distance ; 
and we shall lose the opportunity of striking the enemy 
at the fountain-head, with the highest probability of 
success. 

14 



210 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

" From the strength of the two armies, as stated bj 
jour Excellency, and the particular circumstance of ours 
having in it a number of levies whose times will expire 
on the 1st of January next, I am clearly of opinion that 
no part of this army can be detached to the Southern 
States, without putting the remainder of it in the power 
of the enemy, and committing the Middle and Eastern 
States to his mercy ; that any thing less than the whole of 
this army would be an inadequate relief to the Southern 
States ; and that the marching of it there would be 
by no means an advisable measure, at present. The 
only probable way of giving effectual relief to the 
Southern States, is to adhere to the plan of co-operating 
with our allies in the reduction of New-York, and then 
proceeding with such a fleet and army to Carolina as 
would insure success in that quarter. 

*' Camp Kanahkumac, September 9th, 1780." 

The question was still undecided, when the Alliance 
frigate arrived with intelligence that the second division 
of the French fleet was blockaded at Brest, by a British 
squadron. General Washington, nevertheless, adhered 
steadily to the plan of attacking New-York, and made 
the most vigorous exertions to provide means for its ex- 
ecution. It continued to form the subject of correspond- 
ence between him and the Compte de Rochambeau, 
and the Chevalier de Ternay, the French Admiral ; 
and a personal interview was eventually agreed upon 
between them, which took place at Hartford, on the 
21st of September. At this interview an explicit and 
detailed arrangement for acting against New- York, as 
well as ulterior measures for the campaign, were the 
subjects of discussion. Several plans were concerted, 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 211 

but none of them carried into execution ; in consequence 
of the departure of the French fleet under the Compte 
de Guichen, from the West Indies, directly to Europe, 
instead of coming, as had been expected, to the United 
States. This untoward circumstance not only defeated 
every hope of such a reinforcement as would give the 
Chevalier de Ternay the command at sea, but enabled 
the British to increase their naval superiority. Admiral 
Rodney, who commanded an English fleet in the West 
Indies, was so well persuaded that the Compte de Gui- 
chen, after conveying his fleet of merchantmen beyond 
the reach of the cruisers among the Islands, and on the 
coast, would return for the purpose of co-operating 
against New-York, that he forthwith set sail for the 
American Continent, where he arrived late in Septem- 
ber, with eleven ships of the line and four frigates. 
Thus was the plan in question frustrated ; and no other 
objects of importance subsequently presenting them- 
selves, the American army went into winter quarters 
early in December. 

About the 1st of the ensuing May, another interview 
took place between General Washington and the 
Compte de Rochambeau, for digesting plans of future 
operations. A vigorous attack on New-York was again 
determined on, and the two Generals separated to direct 
the necessary preparations. General Washington drew 
the several divisions of his army from their quarters, 
advanced towards New- York, and encamped on the 4th 
of July at Dobbs's ferry, on the east bank of the Hudson, 
and about twelve miles above Kingsbridge, which unites 
the island of New- York with the main. On the 6th, 
he was joined by the Compte de Rochambeau with the 
French army. A detachment of eight hundred men, 



212 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

under General Lincoln, descended the Hudson in boats, 
landed near Harlaem, and took possession of the neigh- 
bouring heights ; while the Due de Lauzun was to ad- 
vance with his legion from East Chester on Long Island 
Sound, and fall upon De Lancey's corps of refugees at 
Morrisania, on the eastern bank of Harlaem river. But 
the Duke did not arrive soon enough to effect the part 
of the enterprise assigned to him. After some skirmish- 
ing between Lincoln and the enemy, the outposts of the 
latter were withdrawn, and Washington advanced with 
the main army as far as Valentine's hill, four miles from 
Kingsbridge, in order to support Lincoln in case it should 
be necessary. The troops lay upon their arras during 
the night, and, in consequence of the failure of the 
French part of the expedition, returned the next day 
to Dobbs's ferry. 

While the army lay at that place Lord Stirling 
received the following letter from his son-in-law Mr. 
Duer. 



Colonel William Duer to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Rhynbeck, July 22nd, 17SL 

" My Dear Lord, — We learn with much regret that 
Mr. Couenhoven, our neighbour, is taken prisoner on 
board a boat laden with bread for the French army. 
His wife is extremely afflicted at the circumstance, and 
wishes to know whether he was certainly made a pri- 
soner, whether he was wounded by the enemy, and how 
he was treated. It will be an act of humanity, to desire 
the Deputy Commissary of prisoners to inquire minute- 
ly into the circumstances ; and I am sensible that 
when I request you to interest yourself in this inquiry, I 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 213 

propose what is most agreeable to jour own wishes and 
character. 

" I am, &c." 

Both Lord Stirling and his correspondent, as well as 
the person at whose instance the letter was written, had 
the satisfaction of learning that the prisoner was not 
only in safety, but, in consequence of their interference, 
would be speedily released. 

A plan for a general attack upon the enemy in New- 
York was once more formed ; but while the preliminary 
operations were in progress, a French frigate arrived at 
Newport, with a letter from the Compte de Grasse to 
General Washington, dated at St. Domingo, stating that 
he should shortly sail with his whole fleet and an army 
of three thousand two hundred men, for the Chesapeake. 
It was therefore resolved at once to abandon the project 
of besieging New-York, and proceed to Virginia with 
the whole of the French army, and such of the American 
troops as could be spared from the defence of the posts 
on Hudson's River. 



CHAPTER IX, 

1781. 

Lord Stirling was now ordered to repair to Albany 
to take command of the troops in the Northern depart- 
ment, where apprehensions were entertained of another 
invasion from Canada. On reaching the ferry at Green- 
bush, opposite to Albany, he received the following in- 
teresting and somewhat characteristic letter from Gene- 
ral John Stark, who had distinguished himself for his 
bravery and good conduct upon the advance of Burgoyne, 
and was now in command of the post at Saratoga. 

Brigadier General Stark to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Saratoga, October 21st, 1781. 

" My Lord, — I was last night informed that your 
Lordship was on the way to take command of the North- 
ern department, and am very happy that an officer of 
your influence and military experience has been appoint- 
ed to this critical and important command. I have no 
doubt that in case the enemy should make a descent, 
that with the assistance of your good dispositions, the 
valour of the troops, and the militia that can be called 
into the field at the shortest notice, will enable you to 
render a satisfactory account of any party that can be 
sent from Canada. But at present, I rather hope than 
really expect that they will come this campaign. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 215 

" The militia from Berkshire I have dismissed, re- 
serving only three hundred of their best men, proj)erly 
officered, for a few days, until I have further intelHgence 
from the enemy. But the generous contest among those 
brave men for the privilege of tarrying, was not less 
worthy of remark, than their readiness in turning out to 
repel the enemy. In the room of being drafted to tarry, 
as was expected, the officers were under the necessity 
of drafting those who went home, — a conduct so singular 
and remarkable among militia, that it ought to be handed 
down to the latest posterity, as a mark of their magnan- 
imous zeal for the service and defence of their country. 

" I am, &c." 

Upon reading this letter, Lord Stirling immediately 
issued orders to Colonel Tupper, who commanded the 
Continental troops in and about Albany, to put his troops 
under orders to march at a moment's warning, with as 
little baggage as possible, that they might be prepared 
to act as circumstances might require, but to delay 
their march until he should see him in the morning. 

On his arrival at Albany the next day, he received, 
by express, further and more particular intelligence of 
the enemy, and gave orders to Brigadier Generals Van 
Rensselaer and Gansevoort, to call out the militia of the 
neighbourhood, under their respective commands. 

The next day he answered the letter of General 
Stark, by express, and informed him of the measures he 
had taken in consequence of the information he had re- 
ceived from him. 



216 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

M. G. the Earl of Stirling to Brigadier General Stark. 

" Head-quarters, Albany, October 24th, 1781. 

" Dear Sir, — Your letter of the 21st instant was 
received yesterday. Your friendly observations upon my 
abilities rather paint me the person I wish to be, than 
the one I sincerely think I am. Be that as it may, man- 
kind are led, however unjustly, to judge of the conduct of 
officers, not so much by their abilities, as by their success. 
The events of this campaign are as yet beyond the reach 
of human foresight ; yet, when I consider the known 
valour of the troops, and the ready assistance which the 
militia will afford, together with the proved courage and 
firmness of the General who is second in command, 1 can 
venture to say with pleasure, and with some degree of 
certainty, that should the enemy advance, the success 
of the American arms will equal our most sanguine 
wishes. 

" Colonel Tupper marches this morning with the 
New Hampshire brigade, by the directest road to Sara- 
toga, to receive your orders. A quantity of provisions 
will also move on this morning — about fifty wagon loads 
— which I hope will be such a supply as to put you be- 
yond the fear of want for the present. I have written 
to Generals Rensselaer and Gansevoort to put their 
brigades of militia in perfect readiness to march at the 
shortest notice ; which, considering their situation, will 
answer the same purpose as their marching, unless the 
enemy should make a more sudden and rapid movement 
than they probably will. If the party be small, your 
troops, with those at Castletown, will be sufficient. If 
large, their movements must be slower in proportion, 
and will give time to call out the militia. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 217 

" Nothing is of more importance in military affairs 
than good intelligence. So much will depend upon it 
in defending these frontiers, and checking the progress 
of the enemy, that I must desire you will constantly 
keep out small parties of the most trusty commissioned 
officers and men, in such parts of the country, and in 
such directions, as will give the earliest intelligence of 
the force of the enemy, with their least movement ; and 
I need only suggest to you the importance of communi- 
cating it to me as soon as possible. 

" I must request you to make a return of the troops 
at Saratoga, Castletown, and elsewhere under your com- 
mand, designating the terms of service of each regiment 
exclusive of the regular troops ; and, that proper ar- 
rangements may be made, it is necessary that this should 
be done as soon as it can be eifected with any degree of 
precision. 

" I am, &c." 

The return of the express brought the following : 

Brigadier General Stark to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Saratoga, October 25th, 1781. 

" My Lord, — Your letter of yesterday came this 
day to hand by express. Colonel Tupper's detachment 
I expect will join me this evening ; some of his officers 
have already arrived, and the year is now so far advanced 
that the enemy must make their stroke soon ; otherwise 
the inclement season now advancing will infallibly pre- 
vent their putting any thing of consequence into execu- 
tion this campaign. 

" Unless Generals Rensselaer's and Gansevoort's 
men are now on their march, I shall have little hope of 



218 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

receiving any considerable advantage from their assist- 
ance ; and the detachment at Castletown affords less 
hope, from the remoteness of their situation. And fur- 
ther, they are by no means to be considered under my 
command, except two hundred from the State of New 
Hampshire ; the remainder (which make eight hundred) 
are raised, paid, and subsisted by the State of Vermont, 
and are subject to the orders of their Governor, indepen- 
dent of any other authority.* 

" I shall direct my deputy Adjutant General to make 
out a return of the troops on this ground, which shall 
be sent immediately, and will write to Castletown for a 
return of the troops there, but I cannot assure your 
Lordship that they will be complaisant enough to send it. 

" My last intelligence from the north was from Gen- 
eral Enos, the Vermont commander on the frontiers, of 
which the following is an extract : — ' By a scout from 
Ti,t I am informed that several tents were standing at 
old Ti. He also heard the beating of the long roll to the 
south of the Mount (Independence), supposed to be at 
the old Scotchman's ; but in the situation in which he 
was, it might be heard from the mills ; and since we 
make no further discovery, it is my opinion the enemy 
have proceeded to Lake George.' 

" This is all the intelligence I have received since 

their arrival at Ticonderoga. My scouts are continually 

traversing the roads that lead to this post, so that it 

will be very difficult for any enemy to arrive without my 

knowledge. 

" I am, &c." 

* Vermont, it will be recollected, had Federal Constitution, that she was ad- 

not as yet been recognised as an inde- mitted into the Union, 
pendent state ; nor was it until some t Ticonderoga. 
years after the adoption of the present 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



219 



The same day Lord Stirling received information 
that a body of the enemy were within eight miles of 
Schenectady. He therefore ordered Colonel Tupper to 
march with his brigade — then on its route to Saratoga 
— as rapidly as possible to that city. Upon which he 
received the following. 

Brigadier General Stark to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" 9 o'clock, 25th October. 

" My Lord, — 1 am just favoured with a sight of your 
letter of this date to Colonel Tupper, directing his march 
to Schenectady, to oppose the enemy, supposed to be 
committing depredations in that neighbourhood. Con- 
sidering the circumstances of the extreme long march 
they have made this day, and the great improbability 
that this party is either so large as represented, or de- 
signed for any other purpose than drawing our attention 
that way, while the party which I suppose to be at Lake 
George can make their capital stroke in this quarter. — 
These are my apprehensions, and I believe them ground- 
ed on the greatest probability. 

" In my present situation, I have not more than one 
thousand men fit for action, including those that arrived 
here this day. Three hundred of the Berkshire militia 
went off to-day, notwithstanding my most earnest en- 
treaties to the contrary ; and after this, when I am in 
hourly expectation of the enemy's making his appear- 
ance to the amount of fifteen hundred at least, to divide 
this force would be imprudent to the last degree. The 
party that I imagine to be creating this disturbance is one 
of about thirty or forty men who crossed the Sacondaga 
four or five days ago ; and they are very probably joined 
by some of the tories of the country where they are 



220 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

doing the mischief. Their tracks were discovered by 
one of my scouts, between Monroe's and Sir John's 
[Johnson's] roads, and supposed to be a party designed 
to gain intelligence. However, my Lord, if these ar- 
guments do not seem just and reasonable, let me know 
your orders, and they shall be implicitly obeyed. 

'' I am, &c." 

Before receiving this letter, Lord Stirling had coun- 
termanded his former orders, having in the interval ascer- 
tained that, after burning the settlement at Warren's 
bush, the party in question had retired by the way of Scho- 
harie on the south side of the Mohawk. He thereupon 
apprised General Stark by express that he had ordered 
Colonel Tupper to rejoin him as soon as possible. 

In consequence however of information received the 
next morning, the following was despatched to Saratoga. 



M. G. the Earl of Stirling to Brigadier General Stark. 

"Albany, October 26th, 1781, 9 o'clock A. M, 

" Dear Sir, — Since writing to you by express last 
evening, 1 have received such intelligence as induces me 
to think it probable the enemy will attempt to retreat by 
the way of Sacondaga. I wish you to look critically to 
that quarter, and intercept them if possible. Colonel 
Willet's* force 1 fear is not equal to that of the enemy, 
neither of which have I yet been able to ascertain, which 
obliges me to request you to send him a reinforcement, 
if you think it can be done without weakening your 



* Lieut. Colonel Marinus Willet, of nental service, who had been detached to 
the New-York troops in the Conti- the Westward. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 221 

Strength at Saratoga too much. By the last accounts 
he is at or near Johnstown. 

" I am, &c." 

Two days after the date of the above, General Stark 
transmitted to Lord Stirling, the following letter from 
the officer commanding the Vermont militia on the 
Northern frontier. 

Brigadier General Enos to Brigadier General Stark. 

'' Head-quarters, October 26th, 1781. 

" Dear Sir, — This instant yours of yesterday came 
to hand. Since my last intelligence to you, I have had 
the return of three scouts who left the Mount on Mon- 
day, Tuesday and Wednesday. There were three armed 
vessels, also a number of batteaux lying on Ticonderoga 
side. The enemy were encamped on old Ti. Lieu- 
tenant Johnson, who watched their motions for a whole 
day, supposed their number must consist of one thou- 
sand men. * 

*' I am, &c." 

"N. B. Whilst I am writing as above, Major Arm- 
strong, commandant at Pittsford, informs me that a scout 
of his returned from Crown Point on Wednesday. Seven 
of the enemy's ships were then lying at or near the point." 

Brigadier General Stark to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

"Saratoga, October 27th, 1781. 

" My Lord, — Your letter of the 26th came to hand 
last night ; but, as it was left to my discretion to send 
the reinforcement to Johnstown, or to watch the motions 
of the enemy in that quarter, I prefer the latter, as in- 



22'2 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

finitely the most likely to succeed. For should I send 
a reinforcement to Johnstown, it would be at least three 
days before they would arrive there, and before that 
time the enemy will be gone. If 1 watch Monroe's and 
Sir John's roads, there is some probability 1 may inter- 
cept them at Jessup's patent ; although I must own to 
your Lordship, that the probability is not very great, by 
reason of the great distance they are from this place. 

" I have nothing from the enemy since my last ; but 
expect an express from Skenesborough every moment. 
Last niffht a boat was stolen from this side of the river 
and taken across by one or two men. They were fired 
upon, but would not return. I am apprehensive they 
were spies that had been in our camp, and took that 
method to make their escape. 

" I am, &c." 

The express mentioned above brought the following 
important information, from 
» 

Colonel Walbridge to Brigadier General Stark. 

" Head-quarters, Skenestorough, October 27th, 1781. 

" Sir, — This instant a deserter from the enemy 
arrived at this post who left Mount Independence last 
evening, at eleven o'clock. By him I am informed that 
General St. Leger arrived at Ti on Monday last, with 
four gun-boats, two ammunition-boats, and thirty bat- 
teaux, with a number of shipping, and two thousand 
men. Ten batteaux and one whale-boat have been 
taken over to Lake George. The number of men with 
them, and their destination, is unknown to him, he being 
a sailor on board the gun-boats, which lay in the bay 
this side the Mount. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. OO3 

" The above is the substance of the intelligence he 
gives. Ho appears to be very intelligent, and his inten- 
tions good. 

"I am, &c." 

M. G. the Earl of Stirling to Brigadier General Stark. 

" Head-quarters, Albany, October 28th, 178 L 

" Dear Sir, — Yours of the 27th came to hand last 
evening. I am very unhappy that your parties have 
not, any of them, as yet been able to know the force 
and situation of the enemy. Want of such intelligence 
renders it exceedingly difficult to give the necessary or- 
ders to the militia. However, upon your assurances 
that the enemy are in force upon Lake George, and ad- 
vancing, I have written to the several officers command- 
ing brigades of militia, to march with what men they 
can call out, to your assistance. Very soon, I presume, 
it will be ascertained whether they come on or not, at 
this season ; after which, the militia can come home 
with safety. General Rensselaer will join you this day, 
or to-morrow ; he is on his way with part of his brigade. 

" The party to the westward, you perceive, was 
larger than you imagined. The latest intelligence from 
that quarter, you have enclosed. We have accounts — 
which, by the way, are not official — that Lord Corn- 
wallis surrendered with his whole army, on the 17th. 

"I am, &c." 

Brigadier General Stark to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

"Head-quarters, Saratoga, October 28th, 178L 

"My Lord, — Captain Crary returned from Lake 
George this instant, and informs me that one of the 



224 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

enemy's gun-boats came so nigh the shore that she 
threw several shot over his head ; and that he perceived 
a very large smoke at the Narrows, supposed to be an 
encampment. 

" I enclose two copies of letters from General Enos, 
whereby you will perceive the enemy's motions at Ti. 
What their design is, I am unable to determine ; per- 
haps against this place ; if so, I shall endeavour to give 
them a reception they will not like. 

" I am, &c." 

On receiving this intelligence Lord Stirling repaired 
in person to Saratoga ; and on his arrival despatched 
orders to General Gansevoort, to put in immediate 
motion such of his brigade as had not yet marched, and 
bring them up to that post as soon as possible, furnished 
with five or six days' provisions. But these orders were 
afterwards countermanded at the request of the Corpo- 
ration of Albany, in consequence of the alarm prevailing 
among the inhabitants of that city, from the approach of 
the British army. General Gansevoort was nevertheless 
directed to hold himself in readiness to act as occasion 
might require, either as a detachment for the immediate 
defence of Albany, or in conjunction with the main 
body of Lord Stirling's force. 

The incursion of the enemy mentioned in the pre- 
ceding correspondence, was the renewal of a similar 
plan of invasion to that which resulted in the surrender 
of Burgoyne ; and had the attempt been persevered in, it 
would probably have terminated in the same manner : for 
although the army of Lord Stirling was inferior in num- 
bers, and in its proportion of regular troops, to that of 
General Gates, yet the militia had turned out with 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 225 

greater alacrity and confidence, in consequence of tlieir 
former success. They had besides a predilection in 
favour of Lord Stirling, which did not exist with regard 
either to General Schuyler or General Gates ; — not that 
they had greater confidence in his abilities as a com- 
mander, but his soldierly frankness, and even the dignity 
of his manners, combined as they were with a disposi- 
tion and habits calculated at once to conciliate and in- 
spire confidence, without encouraging familiarity, or 
impairing his authority, — qualities which, together with 
the firmness and consistency of his conduct, his constant 
attention to the wants and comforts of his troops, and 
the ready ear he lent to their reasonable complaints, 
gained their affections ; whilst his foresight, vigilance, 
and energy, the promptness and efficacy of his mea- 
sures, commanded their respect. The support too which 
he gave to Stark, and VVillet, the discrimination he had 
shown in their selection, and in the choice of other in- 
ferior officers for special service, not only attached those 
individuals to him personally, but secured to him the 
approbation and esteem of the whole army. It was, 
therefore, with equal confidence in their General and 
themselves, and with hopes and resolutions strengthened 
by the omen of the place, that the troops at Saratoga 
prepared to meet the enemy on the same field, where 
the American arms had already achieved so signal a 
triumph. 

It was the intention of Lord Stirling to concentrate 
his forces, and make his stand on the west bank of the 
Hudson, near the present bridge at Fort Miller, there to 
await the attack of the enemy, and dispute tiie passage 
of the river. He issued, accordingly, the following 



15 



226 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

Order of Battle, accompanied by the annexed explana- 
tory programme. 

*' Order of battle for the army at Saratoga, under the 
command of Major General Lord Stirling ; — Novem- 
ber 1st, 1781. 

" The New Hampshire brigade, consisting of Scam- 
mel's, Read's, and Tapper's regiments, to form on the 
left, in the order they are named, under the command 
of Colonel Tupper. Weissenfeldt's, Sears's, and McKin- 
stry's regiments to form a brigade, under the command 
of Colonel Weissenfeldt, on the right of Colonel Tupper. 
The whole of this first line to be under the command of 
Brigadier General Stark. 

" On the left of this line, at about one hundred 
yards distant, one hundred and twenty-five picked 
marksmen, from General Rensselaer's brigade, in five 
bodies, each commanded by a Captain, to spread at the. 
distance of sixty yards from each other. These are to 
commence firing on the enemy's right flank as soon as 
they can get within a good distance to make their fire 
effectual ; and are to observe a deliberate and well 
aimed fire, and are never to give it but when they are 
sure of their mark. They are to be under the com- 
mand of Colonel Henry J. Van Rensselaer. In like 
manner the right wing is to be covered by two similar 
parties from General Gansevoort's brigade. 

<' The second line is to be composed of the remain- 
der of General Rensselaer's brigade in two bodies, 
under the command of Colonel Van Alstine, and Colonel 
Waterman, for the left wing ; and the remainder of 
General Gansevoort's brigade will compose the right 
wing of the second line. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 229 

" General Rensselaer will command on the left, and 
will superintend the flank of the first line. In like man- 
ner, General Gansevoort will command on the right. 

'* On all movements to the northward, the army is 
to march by the left ; and southward bj the right. 

"Our friends on the east side of Hudson's river 
will watch the enemy, and embarrass them as much as 
possible on the flanks and rear." 

The next day Lord Stirling had the pleasure of an- 
nouncing to his troops the glorious termination of the 
campaign in the Southern States, in the surrender of 
the British army to the combined American and French 
forces under General Washington. This decisive event, in 
addition to the severity of the season, deterred the enemy 
from prosecuting their designs in the North, and deter- 
mined Lord Stirling to prepare to act on the offensive. 
Being, however, subsequently convinced that General 
St. Leger would attempt nothing farther during the 
remainder of the year, he dismissed the militia, and 
returned himself to Albany, whence he immediately 
renewed his correspondence with General Stark, whom 
he left with the regular troops at Saratoga. 



M. G. the Earl of Stirling to Brigadier General Stark. 

"Head-quarters, Albany, November 6th, 1781. 

" Sir, — Since my leaving Saratoga, I have received 
a letter from Colonel Willet giving a particular account 
of the action near Johnstown, and of his pursuit after- 
wards. They were very precipitate in their retreat, 
leaving behind them their packs, blankets, &c., which were 
found strewed through the woods. He pursued them 



230 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

eight miles bejond Canada creek. Before his arrival 
at that place, he fell in with about forty, who were left 
in the rear to procure provisions. He instantly dis- 
persed them. At the creek, he came up with the rear, 
when an action commenced, in which Major Walter 
Butler fell, with a number of others. Finding his own 
provisions very short, and the probability of coming up 
with the main body not very great, he wisely gave over 
the pursuit, leaving them in a situation promising little 
short of certain death from cold and hunger, — an end 
more befitting such a band of murderers and plunderers, 
than the bayonet and ball. As they must have been, 
at his quitting them, more than eight days' march from 
any place where they could procure provisions, the pur- 
pose of an entire defeat must be very well answered. 

" I am &c." 

Brigadier General Stark to M. G. the Earl of Stirling » 

" Saratoga, November 7th, 1781. 

"My Lord, — I am just honoured with your letter 
of yesterday, and am very happy to hear of the success 
of Colonel Willet. The death of Major Butler will 
doubtless be pleasing news to the frontiers — especially 
to those who have felt the sad effects of his murders and 
ravages. 

" Captain Senter, who was out on a scout to the 
northward, has just returned. He has been within 
about twelve miles of Ticonderoga. He discovered 
nothing on Lake George ; but saw four boats, on the 
6th instant, opposite to Putnam's Point on Lake Chara- 
plain, moving to the northward. He discovered my 
smoke, or signs of men at Ti, or Mount Defiance.. 
Captain Emerson, who went to the northward, returned 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 23 i 

without making any discovery ; and after summing up 
their two accounts, I think we may pursue our block- 
houses without interruption, or without any great appre- 
hension of a visit until they are finished. I engaged 
with Colonel Sears's regiment, that upon their bringing 
timber for one of them, they should have a discharge. 
They finished their work this afternoon, and to-morrow 
are to go off. I have heard nothing from Captain Carr 
since he went away. 

" I would ask, my Lord, that some German steel, 
suitable for axes, might be sent, as many of our axes 
fail ; and if we had steel, our own smiths might repair 
them. 1 would beg leave to suggest whether it would 
not be very proper to have a piece of iron cannon, in 
each of our block-houses. Two suitable pieces are now 
at Schenectada. If you agree with me in opinion, I 
wish they may be sent to me. 

" I am, &:c." 

M. G. the Earl of Stirling to Brigadier General Stark. 

" Albany, November 9th, 1781. 

" Dear Sir, — Your letter of the 7th, came to hand 
yesterday evening. I think, by the accounts of Captains 
Senter and Emerson, it is reduced to a certainty that 
the enemy to the northward are retired into Canada. 
Yet I would wish to hear from Captain Carr soon ; for 
if the enemy do not accept my proposal, I would send 
the prisoners of war now here, down the river before 
the winter sets in, and let them take New-York in their 
way to Canada. Their number is increased to fifty 
odd. 

" I have ordered some very good German steel to 
be sent to you, and will inquire into the state of the 



232 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

iron cannon, and send you two of the best of them ; I 
send you enclosed an account of Colonel Willet's loss in 
his late encounters with the enemy. I do not doubt 
theirs will be the destmction of their whole party. 

" I am, &c." 

M. G. the Earl of Stirlirig to Lieutenant Colonel Marinus 

Willet. 

" Albany, November 9th, 178L 

" Dear Sir, — I have received yours of the 4th, en- 
closing the return of loss you sustained in your encoun- 
ters with the enemy, and a copy of the orders you issued 
on the 2nd. I have expressed my sentiments to you 
on that subject in a letter of the 5th, and am very sorry 
that any part of the troops under your command deserve 
the implied censure you give the right wing ; yet 1 can- 
not but approve the discrimination you make in your 
thanks to those who behaved more worthily. 

" Since writing the above, I am favoured with yours 
of the 7th, enclosing the paper therein mentioned, of 
which proper notice will be taken. Pray let Lieuten- 
ant Ryckman be well secured, and sent to me as soon 
as the Indians can spare him. 

" 1 am, &c." 

The following letter to the officer in command at 
West Point, is another proof of the enterprising spirit of 
the writer, ever on the alert for opportunities of activity 
and usefulness. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 233 

M. G. the Earl of Stirling to Major General Heath. 
(secret.) 

" Albany, November 10th, 1781. 

" Dear Sir, — The circumstances of Major Ross's 
situation, who commanded a party of the enemy, 
amounting to six hundred and seven, rank and file,* 
the loss of one-half of the recruits that went from New- 
York to Quebec in August last, together with St. 
Leger's probable situation at present, will greatly re- 
duce the enemy's force in Canada, and, I think, present 
a fair opportunity of carrying on a winter's expedition 
into that country — at least so far as to reduce St. Johns, 
Chambly, and Montreal, and be ready to proceed to 
Quebec, early in the spring. 

" The necessary preparations for such an expedition 
would be but few, and those not expensive. The chief 
article would be about five or six hundred strong three- 
barred wood sleds, the cost of which cannot amount to 
above thirty shillings each. These might be built partly 
at Fishkill, and partly at this place, and might be used 
either for this expedition, or for one to New-York, or 
both. Indeed, I believe it is the only way to take New- 
York, without shipping, as the latter are generally ren- 
dered useless by the 1st of January,— about which time 
there is generally favourable weather to go in with sledges 
over the ice, and out of the reach of the enemy's cannon. 
It will still be time enough to prosecute the other, as 
the ice in some parts of Lake Champlain is seldom 
strong till the first of February. If any part of this plan 
should be adopted, there will be no time to lose in the 
preparations. 

* The party pursued by Willet. 



234 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

" The propriety of the latter expedition cannot, I 
think, be doubted. The peace and happiness of almost 
all of the United Stales, are deeply concerned in it. 
While the British are in possession of Canada, with free 
access to the Lakes, they can enter the rear of any of 
the States, from New Hampshire to Carolina, whenever 
they please. We shall be always at their mercy. Trea- 
ties of peace will never secure us. Their command 
of the trade with the Indians will enable them to distress 
our frontiers, break up our back settlements whenever 
they think proper, and lay the blame on the Indians, 
It will be a constant check to the growth of the States. 
If we cannot get possession of all Canada, we ought to 
strive for Montreal with the river St. Lawrence, at 
least as low as the mouth of the river Sorel. This, and 
nothing less, will effectually exclude them from Lake 
Champlain, as well as the great western lakes, which 
are the avenues to the rear of all the future western 
States. 

" This boundary to the possessions of the British, 
would divide the Indian trade pretty equally among all 
the States. That of New England, New-York, and 
New Jersey, through Lakes Champlain and Ontario ; 
that of Pennsylvania and the more southern and western 
States, through Lake Erie and the rivers Ohio and Mis- 
sissippi. It will, in short, divide the fur trade with all 
the maritime powers of Europe, which would otherwise 
be engrossed by Great Britain. 

" If a general peace should be treated of this winter, 
it will not be concluded until the spring ; and most prob- 
ably, it will be on terms of possession at the date of the 
treaty. This is a sufficient inducement to push as far 
as we can this winter. 

" I am, &c." 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 235 

No answer to this letter appears from General Heath, 
nor any other evidence of his disposition or ability to co- 
operate in the proposed plan. The wisdom and foresight 
by which it was suggested were, however, soon appa- 
rent ; and so long as the British retained possession of the 
chain of posts on our northern and western frontiers, 
— which they continued to hold until their surrender 
under the treaty of 1794, — so long were our settlements 
on those frontiers literally " at their mercy." Until then, 
they were enabled to engross the whole Indian trade, as, 
by the possession of Canada, they still monopolize the 
most valuable portions of it even within our own terri- 
tory, 

M. G. the Earl of Stirling to Lieut. Colonel Willet, 

"Head-quarters, Albany, November 12th, 1781. 

" Sir, — It is with pleasure 1 forward you the enclosed 
copy of General Orders. I am happy that my opinion 
of your conduct is supported by that of my superior offi- 
cer. The representation given him of your proceedings 
was as full and explicit as possible, which the General 
informs me he has transmitted to Congress. 

" I am, &c." 

M. G. the Earl of Stirling to Brigadier General Stark. 

"Head-quarters, Albany, November 12th, 1781. 

" Sir, — 1 have within this hour received a pacquet 
from Colonel St. Leger, in answer to the letter I wrote to 
him by Captain Carr. It must have come through you^ 
It surprises me not a little that it was not accompanied 
by a line from you enclosing Captain Carr's report as 
to where he received the letter from Colonel St. JLeger,. 
with other circumstances which I think he must havQ 



236 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

thought it his duty to inform me of. I desire, sir, you 
will direct Captain Carr to come to me immediately. I 
must also desire you, sir, to transmit to me copies of all 
intelligence you have received since I left you. 

" I am &c." 

Brigadier General Stark to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

"Head-quarters, Saratoga, November 13th, 178L 

"My Lord, — Your letter of yesterday, is just now 
delivered to me. 1 shall order Captain Carr to attend 
you as soon as possible. He found the enemy encamp- 
ed at Chimney Point. On coming in sight of them, he 
was met by Lieutenant Hamilton of the 34th, aid 
to St. Leger, and ordered into a creek this side of Crown 
Point. A subaltern and twenty men were placed as a 
guard over him ; and at day-break the next morning 
after his arrival, he was dismissed. He saw no officer, 
except Lieutenant Hamilton, and the officer of the 
guard, nor could he make any satisfactory discovery of 
their numbers ; but by some indirect hints of the officer, 
he suggests that a south wind would be very agreeable. 
They informed him that the cause of their coming was 
to draw the force of the country this way, and by 
that means save Cornwallis. You may place as much 
confidence in this report as it deserves ; for my part, I 
think it a slender veil to cover their real design. Cap- 
tain Carr can possibly give you a more satisfactory ac- 
count of the matter than my paper will admit me to do. 

" I am, &c." 

The following letter to the Commander-in-Chief, 
contains a summary of the operations detailed in the 
preceding correspondence, and fills up the chasms which 
i)ccur in it. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



237 



M. G. the Earl of Stirling to General Washington. 

"Rhynbeck,* November 26tli, 1781. 

" Dear Sir, — 1 most heartily congratulate your Ex- 
cellency on the glorious victory you have obtained over 
the British arms on the 1 9th of October, at York and 
Gloucester in Virginia, an event, important in the affairs 
of Europe, as well as of America. It will weigh heavy 
in the scale of negotiation, and 1 hope, secure peace to 
the latter, on the principles of independency and honour, 
with permanent advantages to our generous and illus- 
trious allies. I should have had the honour of express- 
ing to your Excellency the joy I feel on this occasion, 
much sooner, had 1 not been engaged on the northern 
frontier, — whence I am just returned. 

"After repeated intelligence had been received that 
the enemy were on their way from Canada, in order 
to invade the frontiers of this State, I had the honour, on 
the 15th of October, to take command of the forces in 
this quarter. On my arrival at Albany, I found the in- 
telligence of the enemy's having landed on the south 
side of Lake George — on which the militia had been 
called out — was premature. I therefore dismissed the 
militia, with thanks for their alertness in turning out so 
universally. The enemy, however, was on Lake Cham- 
plain, on Bull's Bay, beyond Crown Point. From this 
position, I was suspicious that they meant to send a light 
party by Jessup's patent down the north branch of the 
Hudson to Sacondaga, and then to fall on the Mohawk 
river by Johnstown, or to surprise Schenectada. The 
passes on this route were immediately guarded, and 

* The residence of his son-in-law, Mr. Duer, in Duchess County, N. Y. 



238 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Colonel Willet desired to look well to the westward, as 1 
had intelligence that six hundred of the enemy had pro- 
ceeded from Montreal, by the St. Lawrence, towards 
Lake Ontario. 

" The 22nd, at night, I received information that the 
enemy had advanced to Crown Point. The next day, 
the New Hampshire brigade moved towards Saratoga. 
On the 24th, I was informed that the enemy had ar- 
rived at Ticonderoga, and were moving their boats 
over the carrying place, into Lake George. The militia 
were directed to hold themselves in readiness to march 
on the shortest notice. On the 25th, at noon, I received 
intelligence that a large body of the enemy were within 
eight miles of Schenectada, burning and destroying the 
country. I immediately ordered the militia nearest at 
hand to move that way under General Gansevoort, and 
sentofF sixty volunteers mounted on horseback, and about 
thirty continentals of different corps, and despatched an 
aid to Colonel Tupper, then on the road to Saratoga, 
with orders to move towards Schenectada, by the north 
bank of the Mohawk. On the morning of the ^6th, 
intelligence was brought that Colonel Willet had met 
with the enemy, engaged them, and was defeated and 
surrounded at Johnstown. I ordered more militia to the 
westward, and directed Colonel Tupper to move towards 
Johnstown, intending myself to proceed to the vicinity 
of that place. I received various accounts of Willet, 
during the day, and learnt from General Stark that the 
enemy were certainly advancing by Lake George, and 
that he expected to be attacked in twenty-four hours. 
He called for the militia to fly to his assistance ; the 
whole of them not em})loyed to the westward were then 
ordered to move towards Saratoga as briskly as possible. 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 239 

" On the 27th, in the morning, I received advice 
that Colonel Willet had indeed fought the enemy, but 
with advantage, — had taken forty prisoners, and had 
gone on in pursuit. This appears to have been a party 
of six hundred and seven rank and file, partly from 
Niagara, and partly from Buck's Island, that rendezvoused 
at Oswego, about the 8th of October, under the com- 
mand of Major Ross, and thence proceeded to the S. E. 
point of Lake Oneida, where they left their boats, and 
went on by the head branches of the Susquehanna, 
through Cherry Valley ; crossed the Schoharie, fell upon 
Warren's bush, burnt about twenty houses and barns, 
then crossed the Mohawk, near Fort Hunter, and pro- 
ceeded to Johnstown, where, about half an hour after 
their arrival they were attacked by Willet with about 
five hundred men, who, after a variety of fortune, beat 
the enemy off the ground. They retired in the dark 
some miles. Willet followed them in the morning, and 
kept up the pursuit several days, during which he had 
several skirmishes with them with some advantage. He 
left them about twenty miles north of the Oneida Lake, 
in a miserable situation without provisions, and an eight 
days' march before them. It became prudent for Willet 
to proceed no further. He has done, I believe, every 
thing a man could do in his situation ; and has great 
merit. Upon the whole, Mr. Ross has made a bad ex- 
pedition of it, — his loss being at least one hundred and 
fifty, in prisoners, killed, and deserters, besides the 
wounded, whom they contrived to carry off. Among 
their killed was their partisan Walter Butler, and a Brit- 
ish Captain of the 28th. 

" The intelligence from the northward convinced 
me that the enemy was not so near at hand as was ap- 



240 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

prehended ; jet I kept moving the militia upwards, 
ordering part to halt at Stillwater, and determined to go 
up to Saratoga, to reduce the position and strength of 
the enemy to some certainty. Accordingly, on the 30th 
I rode up to Saratoga, in company with General Schuyler; 
and soon after our arrival there, ordered out four scout- 
ing parties to different parts of Lake George. A Cap- 
tain Gray had that day reported to General Stark that 
the enemy's gunboats had approached so near the south 
shore of the Lake as to throw shot over his head. Other 
intelligence had been received from General Enos at 
Castletown, and Colonel Walbridge at Skenesborough, 
that about five hundred of the enemy were employed in 
covering some of the old works at Ticonderoga, and 
drawing up heavy cannon to the works, — the rest pro- 
ceeding by Lake George. 

" On the 31st I reconnoitred the grounds, in order 
to erect some works to cover the troops that may be 
posted here for the winter. At noon intelligence came 
from General Enos that the enemy were all on Lake 
George, advancing under the command of General St. 
Leger — their strength three thousand. I thereupon 
ordered General Enos to move to Fort Anne, and the 
militia on the east side of the Hudson, with those of the 
lower part of Vermont, to assemble at Battenkill. I 
also wrote to General Gansevoort to bring up the militia 
not yet come forward. I then formed the orders of bat- 
tle and march, intending to meet the enemy in the act 
of crossing the Hudson, should they attempt it. 

" On the 1st of November, we received the glorious 
news of the surrender of the army under the com- 
mand of Earl Cornwallis to your Excellency, which was 
announced at noon by thirteen cannon, adding one in 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 241 

compliment to our friends in Vermont, who were co- 
operating with us against the common enemy. On the 
2nd, I ordered two commissioned officers, with small 
scouting parties, to reconnoitre Lake George, and go as 
far as they could with safety, and until they could dis- 
cover the situation of the enemy. I thought it necessary 
at this time to send Captain Carr with a flag to Colonel 
St. Leger. My letter to him with his answer are en- 
closed. In the evening. Captain Wright, another of 
my scouts, reported that he had been down the Lake 
below the Narrows, and could discover no signs of tiie 
enemy. This was confirmed by another scout, which 
arrived soon after. I therefore ordered the Generals 
and officers commanding brigades, to meet nu\ at eleven 
o'clock the next day, when, finding tlie Council u/Jaui- 
mously of opinion with me, that the enemy had retired, 
and considering that, from the severity of tlx^ season, 
and the height of the waters from the late heavy rains, 
it would be impossible for them suddep/y to return, 1 
ordered the militia to be dismissed with my thanks. 

" On the 4th I returned to Albanv^ ; and during my 
stay there I received full and satisfactory evidence that 
the enemy had retired in good ear/iest. The last account 
placed them at Chimney Point, opposite to Crown Point, 
on the 8th instant, where t-'iey had been several days 
waiting for a favourable wind, and where, I think it not 
improbable, they are sti.'t ; for the winds have been ad- 
verse, and the weather severely cold ; the tops of the 
mountains now in view are white with snow, and the 
air piercingly cold. They must feel it more severely 
where they are. 

" The letters I have written from time to time, to 
General Heath, I doubt not have been communicated to 

16 



242 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



your Excellency, but I think it my duty to give you this 
detail, that you may have a more distinct idea of affairs 
in the quarter where I had the honour to command. I 
shall proceed to-morrow in order to join General Heath. 

"1 am, &c."* 



* The Tories in Wittemberg, a Ger- 
man settlement near Rhynbecli, were 
apprised of this visit of Lord Stirling's, 
by their friends on the Mohawk, and a 
plan was concerted between them for 
his capture, which was defeated by the 
fidelity of a female servant in the family 
of Colonel Duer, whose parents lived in 
Wittemberg. She had spent the day 
'i' home, and on her return in the 
evtning, communicated to her mistress 
a conrersation she had overheard in re- 



lation to the plot ; whereupon such 
measures were taken as prevented its 
execution. The dragoons, who had 
accompanied Lord S. from Albany, as 
a guard, were brought into the house, 
and loop-holes were made in the walls ; 
the windows and doors were barricado- 
ed, the male inmates were armed and 
stationed, and when at night the enemy 
made their appearance, they were re- 
ceived with a volley, which dispersed 
them. 



CHAPTER X. 



17S1-1783. 



The remainder of the autumn, and the (;arlier part 
of the ensuing winter, were spent by Lord Stirling in 
New Jersey; wliere he held the military comn)and, al- 
though residing at his place at Baskenridgc. During 
this interval, he received a letter, of which the following 
is the translation, from a member of that branch of his 
family, which, at the expulsion of James the Second 
from the British throne, had followed the royal exile into 
France, and become naturalized in that country. 

The Count Alexandre (PHanache to the Earl of Stirling, 

" Chateau de Pauleen, November 30fli, 1781. 

" Mr Lord, — I embrace with great pleasure the 
opportunity afforded by the departure of my brother-in- 
law, Count De la Croix, Captain of the Cleopatra frig- 
ate, to inquire after you, and to congratulate you on the 
taking of York and Gloucester, w^ith the garrison of six 
thousand men under Lord Cornwallis. This great ad- 
vantage, my Lord, together with that gained by Count 
De Grasse over Admiral Graves, is the harbinger of 
peace ; — the more certainly so, as England has been 
equally unfortunate both in Europe and the East Indies. 



•244 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

I think that nation must at length be forced to sue for 
peace, on such conditions as the belligerent powers op- 
posed to her may dictate. The independence of Amer- 
ica will doubtless be the first clause of the treaty, and 
the wisdom of your government will soon restore that 
abundance and prosperity which must necessarily have 
disappeared under the calamities of war. 

" It is with great pleasure, my Lord, that I learn any 
thing which contributes to your happiness, and I shall 
be extremely anxious to keep up a correspondence which 
has been interrupted by the events of war. I am igno- 
rant, my Lord, whether you received the letter in which 
I announced to you the death of my father, Command- 
ant at Gonaives, in St. Domingo. I delivered myself, 
to Dr. Franklin, some years since, a letter for you, 
which he promised me to forward with his despatches, 
— probably it never reached you. 

" I married, about two years since, a young widow 
of this province (Mauze), whom 1 hope to present to 
you in a few years, as I intend to take New England in 
my way to my plantation in St. Domingo. The strong 
desire I have, my Lord, to make your acquaintance, will 
induce me to take this route, though somewhat the 
longest. 

"The Chevalier L'Etanduerre, my brother-in-law. 
Lieutenant of the armed vessel the Hercules, of Count 
De Grasse's squadron, writes me from the Chesapeake, 
under the date of the 22nd of October, informing me 
of the success of the French troops, joined to those of 
America. He would assuredly have been the bearer of 
a letter to you, my Lord, had I known his destination 
when he left France. But as his profession will un- 
doubtedly bring him again to New England, I have 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 245 

written to desire him to present himself to you, and 
shall be much obliged by any good offices to him in your 
power. 

" I live on an estate of my wife's, near the ports of 
Roche fort and Rochelle. If I can be of any service to 
you here, or in any other of the Provinces of the King- 
dom, I beg you to command me with freedom ; and be 
assured that f shall be happy in having an opportunity 
of proving the sentiments of esteem and most perfect 
attachment with which 

"1 am, &c." 

In January, 1782, Lord Stirling repaired to Phila- 
delphia, which was within his military department, and 
where he established his head-quarters for the winter. 
Shortly after his arrival he received the following : 

Colonel David Brearly to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

'• Trenton, January 11th, 17S2. 

" My Lord, — I despatched the Sheriff of Burlington 
down to Egg-harbour, who returned yesterday, and in- 
forms me that the enemy have not made any fortifica- 
tions on Osborne's Island, as was supj)osed ; but that 
there are a considerable body of armed boats which ply 
constantly between Egg-harbour and New-York, — some 
of which are always at Egg-harbour, in order to carry 
on a trade with the disaffected inhabitants, (for they are 
chiefly so there,) and also to carry off deserters and 
others who choose to go to New-York. Colonel Law- 
rence of Monmouth was down at the same time, with a 
party of Militia ; and on his approach the enemy, who 
were in the village, at the Meeting-house, fled over the 



246 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

beach, where, by means of their boats, they were in a 
state of perfect security. 

''• Unless these fellows are routed, all the sea-coast for 
many miles must be given up to the enemy ; yet I know 
of no possible means of accomplishing it, but by send- 
ing a superior force by water, so as to cut off their retreat 
to New-York. If this could be effected, they might then 
very easily be demolished. 

" I am, &c." 

Governor Livingston to M. G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Trenton. January 11th, 17S2. 

" My Lord, — Before the receipt of your Lordship's 
letter of the 6th instant, I had sent an express with let- 
ters to three gentlemen of note in a certain part of the 
country, for the information we want. The messenger 
has not returned ; nor do I expect so precise an answer 
to my queries when he does return, as Colonel Law- 
rence, who takes the trouble of this, is able to give you. 
He is not only well acquainted with the state of things 
in that quarter, from general information, but has very 
recently been on the spot with the command of a party 
of militia to dislodge the enemy. He is a member of 
our Council ; and, as the greatest confidence may be re- 
posed in him, I have taken the liberty of communicating 
to him the intended operations; and now recommend 
him to your Lordship's notice, not only for the informa- 
tion I think him capable of giving, but as a gentleman 
whom, from his amiable character, you will be natu- 
rally disposed to treat with that attention to which his 
merit and station entitle him. 

" I am obliged to your lordship for your kind offer of 



THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLL\G. 247 

Ibrwarding any of my despatches to France or Spain.* 
I have a few days since confided my letters to my cor- 
respondents in the latter kingdom to Kitty ;t and sup- 
pose they will be conveyed by the same opportunity 
which your Lordship has in your eye. 

" The enemy, with about three hundred men — a 
motley of British and refugees — have made an irruption 
into the city of Brunswick by water ; have captured 
Heyler's gun-boat — one of the first-rates of New Jer- 
sey- — and three whale-boats ; — plundered two houses — 
carried off about five or six prisoners — some of them, 
probably, volunteers — and wounded five or six men. By 
the extreme darkness of the night, the impossibility of 
collecting an adequate force to oppose them, and the 
shortness of the notice of their coming, they could not be 
repelled, nor prevented from executing the object of 
their enterprise ; but the few men that could be col- 
lected, behaved with great bravery, or in the language 
of General Burgoyne, ' to a charm.' 

" I am, &c." 

In the spring following. Lord Stirling, Brigadier 
General Hand, Adjutant General of the American army, 
and Colonel Nichola of the corps of Invalids, were ap- 
pointed by the Commander-in-Chief a Board to settle 
the rank of the subalterns of the Connecticut line, and 
for that purpose he repaired to Fishkill, in the State of 
New- York, where those troops were encamped. Whilst 
engaged in this duty. Lord Stirling received the follow- 

* His daughter, Mrs. Jay, had ac- Justice of the Supreme Court of the 

companied her husband on his missions U. S. was attached to the legation, 

to those countries ; and his son, the late t Lady Catharine Duer, the daugh- 

Brockhoist Livingston, an Associate ter of Lord S. and niece of Governor L. 



248 I'HE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

ing letter, giving an account of the first indications of 
the abandonment of the contest by the British. 

Major General Heath to M. G, the Earl of Stirling. 

"Highlands, June 28th, 1782. 

" Mr Lord, — I am this moment honoured with yours 
of the 27th. My barge shall attend you at head quar- 
ters on Sunday morning, in hopes of the honour of a 
visit from your Lordship. 

" At two o'clock this morning I received a letter from 
Colonel Greaton, commanding at Dobbs's Ferry, cover- 
ing one from Major Goetshius of the militia, containing 
intelligence that a Captain of militia left Newark the 
day before yesterday, and brought an account that the 
enemy had evacuated Staten Island, and destroyed all 
their works. Colonel Greaton adds that he had heard 
a firing of cannon the most part of yesterday, and that 
he had heard that a number of the inhabitants had come 
off Staten Island, and begged that they might not be 
plundered. If this account be true, an evacuation of 
New- York will follow. 

" I am, &c." 

To two young officers of distinguished merit about to 
visit Europe, Lord Stirling gave the following letter of 
introduction : — 

M. G. the Earl of Stirling to Lieut. Gen. the Marquis 
de Bouille.'^ 

" Head-auarters, Fishkill, N. Y., June 25th, 1782. 

" My Dear Marquis, — I need not apologize for in- 
troducing to your Lordship two brave and virtuous men, 

* A French General of celebrity, com- of La Fayette, but opposed the Revolu- 
manding the land forces at the siege of tion, emigrated to England, and died ir> 
Gibraltar. He was the brother-in-law London in 1800. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 249 

who feel an ardent desire to serve their country and its 
friends in a righteous cause : your established character 
makes you the friend of such men. Lieutenant Colo- 
nel Smith* and Major Clarksonf— two gentlemen very 
dear to me— who have served in the armies of America 
every campaign since the present contest with Great 
Britain begun, are apprehensive that the present cam- 
paign on this continent will be rather inactive— at least, 
unttl late in the season— they therefore seek for a more 
active scene in the combined armies of France and Spain 
under your command. Give me leave to recommend 
them to your countenance and friendship. 

" I am, &c." 

After performing the duties assigned to the Board of 
Officers at which he presided, Lord Stirling was once 
more ordered to his former command of the Northern de- 
partment, and again established his head quarters at 
Albany. Among his correspondence at this period, is a 
letter from a late President of the United States, who 
had formerly been attached to his military family as an 
aid-de-camp. 

* William Stephens Smith, the son- persons could have afTonled a stronger 

in-law of the elder President Adams, and contrast of character and manners than 

afterwards a Colonel in the provisional these two gentlemen. The one was as 

army of 1798 remarkable for his imposing military 

t Matthew Clarkson, who after the appearance and pompous bearing, as the 

war commanded the first Division of other for his modest, unassummg and 

the New- York militia-was a member : mial.le deportment. In the French 

of the State Senate, and as much dis- camp, the one probably passed for much 

tinguished for his private worth as for more than he was worth, while the other 

his^public services. Perhaps no two was not estimated at half his value. 



•250 "THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

Lieutenant Colonel James Monroe to M. G. the Earl of 

Stirling. 

" Richmond, Sept. 10th, 1782. 

" My Lord, — I have such confidence in your Lord- 
ship's friendship and candour, as to be convinced that, 
although 1 have merited in some degree jour displeasure 
by not writing to you and informing myself sooner of 
your health and welfare, that an acknowledgment of my 
fault, and a promise to be guilty of the like no more, 
will make a sufficient atonement. Had I not been able 
to hear of your Lordship by almost every passenger, and 
to be informed of every even the minutest circumstance 
respecting you, which my attachment to your interest 
and welfare would prompt me to make inquiry, I should 
not so readily expect your forgiveness. Believe me, I 
have always been happy to hear from you, and have 
never failed to seize an opportunity that would give me 
that pleasure. 

" For my part, till very lately, I have been a re- 
cluse ; chagrined with my disappointment with the 
State in not attaining the rank and command I sought, 
— chagrined with some disappointments in a private line, 
I retired from society with almost a resolution never to 
enter it again. Being fond of study, I submitted the 
direction of my time and plan to my friend Mr. Jeffer- 
son — one of our wisest and most virtuous republicans — 
and aided by his advice, I have hitherto of late lived. 
Lately I have taken a part in the civil line of the State, 
and have been elected to the Legislature — and afterwards 
by the Legislature into the Executive Council of the 
State, which last office I at present fill. 

" I am happy to make my acknowledgments to your 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 251 

Lordship, and his Excellency General Washington, for 
your and his friendly letters to this State in Aivoiir of my 
conduct while an aid in your family, witliout which I 
could not have expected, among so many competitors, 
at my age, to have attained, in this degree, the confi- 
dence of my countrymen. I cannot forget your Lord- 
ship's kindness to me on this and many other occasions, 
and, believe me, it is one of those circumstances of my 
life which I frequently recur to with the greatest plea- 
sure. 

" I am to require of your Lordship to make my re- 
spects to your Lady and family, and to assure them that 
they have my sincerest wishes for their health and wel- 
fare. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to 
hear severally of their happiness. 1 shall, in future, 
take the liberty of writing to your Lordship, as opportu- 
nity may present, so soon as I have your permission, 
with a forgiveness of my former neglect. I shall be 
happy to hear from you as soon as possible, and 

" Am, &c." 

Upon resuming his command at Albany, Lord Stir- 
ling's official correspondence commenced with the fol- 
lowing letter from the officer who had succeeded General 
Stark in the command at Saratoga. 

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Dearborn* to M. G. the Earl 
of Stirling, 

'' Garrison. Saratoga, Sept. 20tli, 17S2. 

"My Lord, — I find in your Lordship's orders of the 
14th instant 1 am severely reprimanded for deviating 

* Secretary at war under Mr. .TefTersoii, and .Major General and Commander- 
in-Chief of ilie army in 1812. 



252 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

from the general orders of the 7th of August last. I 
conceive your Lordship must have been misinformed 
respecting the matter. The stars on the breasts of the 
non-commissioned officers and privates of the 1st New 
Hampshire regiment were put on previous to the publi- 
cation of the general orders of the 7th of August respect- 
ing badges. I complied with them, but did not take off 
those I had put on. In that, perhaps^ I was wrong. 1 
wish, and, I believe I do, pay as strict attention to or- 
ders as any officer whatever, and am exceeding sorry 
that any part of my conduct has been such as to give 
your Lordship reason to censure me. 

" 1 see in your Lordship's orders of the 17th instant, 
all men who are deserters from the British army are forbid 
to suttle or remain with the troops at any of the posts 
in this department. I had heretofore supposed that the 
commanding officer of a regiment, when detached with 
his regiment, and commanding a post or garrison, had a 
right to license a suttler for the post, if he found one 
necessary or convenient, and, on that principle, have 
licensed one for this post. He has acted in that char- 
acter for some time past by General Stark's license, and 
other commanding officers. This man, I suppose, is a 
deserter from the British army ; but he has a family in 
Albany, and is a very sober, steady, inoffensive man. 
His having been here for a considerable time, and having 
furnished the officers with articles to a considerable 
amount more than they can pay for at present, and hav- 
ing contracted to furnish the officers of the garrison with 
liquors and other conveniences, for the present month, 
to the amount of what may be due to them, his going 
from this post immediately will be very disagreeable to 
the officers, and detrimental to him. If your Lordship 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 253 

will please to consent to his remaining here until the 
officers can have time to settle with him, it will very 
much oblige them. 

" I am, &c." 

Lieutenant Colonel Dearborn to M. G. the Earl ofStiiiing. 

" Garrison, Saratoga, September 30th, 17S2. 

"My Lord, — Agreeable to directions received from 
your Lordship, through Captain Sill, I have taken vari- 
ous measures for procuring intelligence from Canada, but 
I have not been able to obtain any of consequence. I 
have had repeated scouts to Crown Point, with directions 
to take every measure in their power to take a prisoner, 
or more if possible. But the enemy have kept their 
men so close on board their vessels, that we have not 
been able to take any. My scouts have been very fre- 
quently at different parts of Lake George, — at Ticon- 
deroga, and all the other different communications from 
Crown Point to this garrison, but have made no dis- 
coveries of any party, or signs of any, since the one that 
crossed Lake George about the 10th of August, whose 
boat a scout of mine secured. 

" A man by the name of Carpenter, who was taken 
by the enemy near Fort Schuyler, in the fall of 1780, 
arrived here this day from Canada. He says he made 
his escape from an Island above Montreal, in comj)any 
with eight others, on the 13th instant, — four of them 
arrived in the neighbourhood of this garrison with him. 
He appears to know very little of the circumstances of 
matters in that quarter. About two montlis ago, he saw 
a body of troops moving up the river; and he was told 
an expedition was intended against some part of the 
Mohawk River ; but he has heard nothing of the matter 



254 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

since. He was told Great Britain and America were 
reconciled, and had agreed to unite their forces against 
France. He heard nothing respecting the Indians lately ; 
nor of any movements this way. He left about one 
hundred and fifty prisoners at the place he escaped from, 
and in a very distressed situation, — being almost en- 
tirely destitute of every article of clothing, and no pros- 
pect of relief, except they engaged in the enemy's service. 
It seems a pity those poor fellows should be neglected, 
when it must be in the power of the Commissary of 
prisoners to exchange them. 

" I should be greatly obliged to your Lordship for 
giving me as early information as the good of the service 
will admit of, respecting the destination of my regiment 
this winter. If we are to remain at this place, a con- 
siderable quantity of boards and other materials, for re- 
pairing the barracks, will be absolutely necessary, for 
which I shall make application the moment I know 
my regiment, or any other, is to winter here. 

" I am, &c." 

John Sullivan, Esq.^ to M. G. the Earl of Stirling 

" Keeue, N. H., October 4th, 1782. 

" My Lord, — I take the liberty of informing your 
Lordship that last evening arrived in this town, one 
Captain Snyder, who was taken near Esopus, about 
three years since, and escaped from his confinement near 
Montreal on the 10th of last month. He informed me 
that the British army were encamped at Isle^aux-Noix, on 
their way to Albany ; that their numbers consisted of 

* Tlie former Major General in the Continental service, now a member of 
the civil government of New Ilanipshire. 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 355 

four thousand, principally German troops ; that the 
Indians under Johnson were to move down the Mohawk 
River, and fall back, upon Schenectada, at the same time 
that tiie main army was to attack Albany. He adds 
that it was currently reported by their officers that the 
inhabitants of Vermont were to join them on their arri- 
val at Crown Point, — of which, from other accounts, 
there seems to be some reason to be apprehensive. 

" General Bailey also writes by express, that he has 
similar accounts through other channels. 1 have con- 
versed with an intelligent officer commanding on our 
frontiers, who confirms this account, and assures me that 
some of his party have reconnoitred the enemy at Isle- 
aux-Noix, and find their numbers about four thousand ; 
and through a secret channel I have discovered that the 
army is commanded by Major General Clark ; that their 
object is Albany ; and that they are in full expectation 
of being joined by Vermont, — of which, from evidence 
I have this moment received, I have little reason to doubt. 

" As your Lordship commands the Western depart- 
ment, it was thought proper by the Judges of the Su- 
perior Court, now sitting here, and all the officers in this 
quarter, to despatch an express to your Lordship with 
the foregoing intelligence, that you may take the proper 
measures to frustrate the enemy's designs. It is difficult 
to conjecture what may be their intentions. Possibly 
the plan for forming a junction of the two armies on 
Hudson's River, may be again in contemplation ; but 
making a diversion in that quarter to weaken General 
Washington, and then bringing him to action, is still 
more probable. There is, indeed, a possibility that their 
intention is to establish themselves on this side the 
Lake, secure, and bring over to their measures those in- 



256 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

habitants of Vermont who are ignorant of the designs of 
their leaders, and may probably attempt to make oppo- 
sition when the plot is discovered. Your Lordship will, 
I am convinced, use every effort to discover and frustrate 
their designs, whatever they may eventually appear to be. 

" I am, &c." 

The measures adopted by Lord Stirling in conse- 
quence of General Sullivan's information appear from the 
following letters. 

Lieutenant Colonel Dearborn to M.G. the Earl of Stirling. 

" Garrison, Saratoga. October 8th, 1782. 

" My Lord, — I this morning had the honour of re- 
ceiving your Lordship's letter of yesterday ; in conse- 
quence of which 1 sent a Captain with a small party to 
Skenesborough, with directions to take every measure in 
his power for gaining intelligence respecting the move- 
ments your Lordship mentioned ; and in such manner 
as to give the Vermonters no reason to suspect his busi- 
ness. 

" I am, &c." 

The Same to the Same. 

" Garrison, Saratoga, October 14th, 1782. 

" My Lord, — By the bearer I send a prisoner to 
your Lordship, who was taken near Hubbartstown in 
Vermont, by a small party sent out from Skenesborough, 
by an officer sent there to procure intelligence. The 
Corporal who took him held a conversation with him 
for an hour or two, where he first met him, intimating 
that he and the two men with him were deserters, and 
wished to get to Canada. The prisoner very soon in- 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 05- 

formed him that he was from Canad^ and was a recruit- 
ing officer from Rogers's corps, and said many things to 
induce them to enlist with him, and promised to conceal 
them till he could send them safe to St. John's. The 
prisoner's name is Fifield ; he is from that part of New- 
Hampshire where I belong : I am acquainted with his 
family, and suspect he has been sent to Canada, by 
some man or men, for some particular purpose. He has 
said that Captain Pritchard from Rogers's corps was to 
hunt not far from Ticonderoga, until the express re- 
turned from New-York. I suppose Pritchard is in Lake 
George, with his boat. A small scout of mine returned 
from thence last evening, which informs that a sail-boat 
was in the Lake. I have sent a scout off this morninsr 
to hunt him up. 

" I am, &c." 

It does not appear that any thing more was done in 
this affair, for upwards of a month ; when the following 
instructions were sent by Lord Stirling to the officer 
detached by Colonel Dearborn, whose object was not so 
much the apprehension of deserters, as to watch the 
movements of persons in Vermont suspected to be in 
correspondence with the enemy. 

M. G. the Earl of Stirling to Captain E. Macomber* 

" Albany, December 20th, 1782. 

" Sir, — When you arrive at Arlington, you are to 
call on Governor Chittenden with my compliments, and 
ask his advice with regard to the best method of appre- 
hending the deserters you are in pursuit of, and his 
assistance in procuring sleighs and horses ; and his- 

* He had, probably, verbal instructions as to the real object of his mission. 

17 



258 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

recommendation to all officers, civil and military, in 
each township you are to go through, to do the like ; for 
which services you are to give your orders on the A. D. 
Q. M. at this post, and they shall be punctually paid. 
You will pass through the towns of Arlington, Sunder- 
land, Stratton, New Fane, and Brattleborough, at the 
two last of which I am told there are a number of 
deserters ; and you will detach to the right and left, as 
you find necessary. 

" I am, &c." 

Here the correspondence of Lord Stirling was 
brought to a sudden close by the illness which within a 
month from the date of the last letter, terminated his 
life. The fatigue of body and mind to which he had 
been subjected during his command on an important and 
exposed frontier, superadded to the hard service and con- 
stant exposure he had undergone from the commence- 
ment of the war, brought on a violent attack of the 
gout, which soon proved fatal. He died at Albany 
on the 15th of January, 1783, in the 57th year of his 
age, and was buried in the vault of his wife's ancestors 
within the walls of the ancient Dutch Church in that 
city, and when that venerable edifice was demolished, 
his bones were removed to the cemetery belonging to 
the Protestant Episcopal Church of which he was a 
member. His funeral was solemnized with the military 
observances appropriate to his rank, and the religious 
rites of his communion ; and the ceremonies of the 
occasion are still remembered, by the elder inhabitants 
of that city, as a spectacle of extraordinary interest and 
solemnity. He left a widow, and two daughters, who 
have been spoken of more than once in the course of 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 359 

this narrativ^e ; Mary the elder married, as has been 
mentioned, to Robert Watts, Esquire, and Catharine the 
younger to Colonel William Duer, — all now deceased. 

The death of Lord Stirling was lamented bv his 
brother officers, and the troo])s he had commanded,* as 
well as by his personal friends. He was regretted, in- 
deed, by all, both in military or civil life, who knew him 
either in his public capacity or private relations, — by 
many also, who, without knowing him personally, were 
aware of the loss the public cause had sustained in being 
deprived, at a critical moment, of the influence of his 
character, and the benefit of his services. No stronijer 
evidence could have been given of the estimation in 
which both were held, than is afforded by the manner 
in which his death was communicated to Congress by 
the Commander-in-Chief, — by the Resolution f passed 
by that body on receiving the intelligence — and, above 
all, by the following touching letter of condolence ad- 
dressed to his widow. 

General Washington to the Countess of Stirling. 

"Ncwbiirg. 20th January, 1783. 

" My Lady, — Having been informed by a letter 

* It was his singular good fortune, in Chief, in a manner most respectful to the 

the course of the war, at different peri- memory of the late Major General the 

ods, to have had under his command, Earl of Stirling, the sense Congress en- 

every brigade in the American army, tertain of the early and meritorious ex- 

except those of South Carolina and ertions of that General in the comnion 

Georgia. cause, and of the bravery, perseverance 

t " In Congress, .January 28ih, 1783. and military talents he possessed ; which 
The Commander-in-Chief having, in a having fixed their esteem for his char- 
letter of the 20th, informed Congress of acter while living, induce a proportion- 
the death of Major General Lord Stir- ate regret for the loss of an officer who 
ling — on motion of Mr. Peters, seconded has rendered such constant end impor- 
by Mr. Dickinson, Resolved, that the tant services to his country." 
President signify to the Commander-in 



260 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

from Captain Sill, of the unspeakable loss which jour 
Ladyship has experienced, I feel the sincerest disposition 
to alleviate bj sympathy those sorrows which I am sen- 
sible cannot be removed or effaced. For this purpose I 
would also have suggested every rational topic of con- 
solation, were I not fully persuaded that the principles 
of Philosophy and Religion of which you are possessed, 
had anticipated every thing I could say on the subject. 

" It only remains then, as a small, but just tribute to 
the memory of Lord Stirling, to express how deeply 1 
share the common affliction, on being deprived of the 
public and professional assistance, as well as the private 
friendship, of an officer of so high rank, with whom i 
had lived in the strictest habits of amitv, and how much 
those military merits of his Lordship, which rendered 
him respected in his lifetime, are now regretted by the 
whole army. It will doubtless be a soothing consider- 
ation in the poignancy of your grief, to find that the 
General ofli^ ers are going into mourning for him. 

" Mrs. Washington joins me in requesting that your 
Ladyship and Lady Kitty \'\ill be assured that we 
feel the tenderest sensibility on this melancholy oc- 
casion. With sentiments of periect esteem and respect, 

" I am, &c." 

The man thus spoken of by Washington needs no 
other epitaph or monument. But it would perhaps be 
deemed a failure of customary duty on the part of his 
biographer, to close this narrative without some attempt 
to sketch the character of the deceased. Fortunatelv, 
in this instance, it is illustrated by his acts, and their re- 
sults. These bear witness that to strong native powers of 
mind, he added industry and perseverance, with early 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. Og [ 

acquired habits of method and attention. His natural 
abilities were more sohd than briUiant — his acquirements 
more useful tlian uncommon. Ilis education was such 
only as the state of the country afforded, but he received 
from his father instruction in his favourite studies of 
Mathematics and Astronomy, which rendered him no 
ordinary proficient in those sciences. He was bred, as we 
have seen, a mercliant, and was successfully pursuing his 
business, when he was induced to join the army under 
General Shirley, — first as a Commissary, afterwards 
as Aid-de-Camp and Private Secretary to the Com- 
mander-in-Chief. In these stations he served several 
campaigns in the war, which commenced on this con- 
tinent in 1747 ; and the result of his military experience 
was especially evinced in the battles of Long Island, 
Brandyuine, Germantown, and Monmouth, in all of 
which he sustained, as we have seen, a conspicuous and 
efficient part. In an evil hour, he accompanied General 
Shirley to England, — from motives more consistent with 
the generosity of his temper, than with prudence or fore- 
thought ; and when there, he was persuaded by Shirley 
and others of his friends, to prefer a claim to what 
proved to be a barren title. The prosecution of this 
claim was attended with heavy pecuniary expenses, 
which, together with those incident to his prolonged 
residence in England, of which it was the cause, laid 
the foundation of subsequent embarrassments. Remark- 
able for the cheerfulness and hilarity of his disposition, 
he was there confirmed in those convivial habits that in- 
creased upon him in after life, though never to such a 
degree as to interfere with the performance of his pub- 
lic duties, or deprive him of the esteem and confidence 
of his official superiors, or private friends. They con- 



262 THE LIFE OP LORD STIRLING. 

tributed, nevertheless, to deepen the shade cast over his 
latter years by the perplexity of his affairs, and rendered 
more striking the contrast between the opening and close 
of his career. Almost from his first entrance upon the 
active duties of life, he was engaged in the service of 
his country. Although possessed of an easy fortune, he 
devoted a large portion of his time, with his peculiar 
talents and acquirements, to the public, in that department 
of the Colonial government, in which they were calcu- 
lated to be most useful. Early imbued with sound 
principles of constitutional liberty, we find him, when 
the rights of the Colonists were assailed, among the 
first to take up arms in their defence; and notwithstand- 
ing his social and personal relations with Great Britain, 
cultivated, as they had recently been, during his resi- 
dence in the metropolis of the Empire, and brightened 
by the attentions he had received from the most power- 
ful and distinguished of her sons, he did not for a 
moment hesitate to protest against her usurpations, and 
declare in favour of his native land. From that moment, 
he literally devoted his life and fortune to her cause — 
and literally lost them both. 

At the commencement of the Revolution, he was 
possessed of large landed estates in New- York and New 
Jersey, which, though charged with heavy debts, were 
estimated at the time to be worth upwards of one hun- 
dred thousand pounds of the colonial currency, over and 
above all incumbrances. Before joining the army, he 
obtained from the Legislature of New Jersey, an Act 
vesting the greater part of his real property in that State 
in Commissioners, to sell what portion of it might be 
necessary for the payment of his debts, and to manage 
the residue for his benefit. The whole of the property 



THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 



263 



thus conveyed 'was sold, and payment made in con- 
tinental money, then a lawful tender; but before the 
Commissioners had proceeded to pay his debts, the Lejjis- 
lature repealed the tender law in force when his j)roperty 
was sold. Thus were the proceeds of the sale rendered 
of no value, from the rapid depreciation of the currency 
of which they consisted, and thus both the estate and the 
purchase money were lost, while the debts remained in 
force. The remnant of his property in New Jersey, and 
the whole of his estate in New-York, were sacrificed at 
forced sales by creditors, who had remained within the 
British lines and adhered to the enemy, under whose 
local authority the judicial proceedings were conducted ; 
and when he died, he left nothing but the certificates 
issued by the State of New Jersey for the depreciation 
of his pay, which, on his death-bed, he delivered to his 
wife for her future support * Had Lord Stirling taken 
part with the mother-country at the Revolution, how dif- 
ferent, in all probability, would have been his fortunes ! 
The services he could have rendered, and the sacrifices 
which must have followed, would have entitled him to 
at least as liberal a compensation as was made by the 
British Government to any of the Americans, who suf- 
fered the confiscation of their estates by their adherence 
to the Royal cause, and would, doubtless, have included 
a remuneration for the territory in the State of Maine, 
which was lost to him by the treaty of peace,t — but that 

* Even the bounty land promised by + By the adoption, in the treaty of 

Congress to those officers who served peace, of the River St. Croix as part of 

during tJie war, was denied to his wid- the N. E. boundary of the United States, 

ow — although he died between the pre- Lord Stirling lost the land* between the 

liminary and definitive treaties of peace Penobscot and Kennebec rivers, granted 

— on the technical ground that the to his ancestors by James I. 
war continued until peace was actually 
proclaimed. 



264 THE LIFE OF LORD STIRLING. 

he preferred the public cause to his private interest, was 
but in consistency with the principles which he inherited 
from his father, and transmitted to his descendants, and 
is, to them, a subject not of regret, but of pride. 



APPENDIX. 



AUTOGRAPH WILL OF LORD STIRLING. 

This is the last Will and Testament of me, William Alexander 
Earl of Stirling, Major General in the armies of the free United States 
in North America. 

I give, devise, and bequeath all my real and personal estate what- 
soever unto my dear wife, Sarah, to hold the same to her, her execu- 
tors, administrators and assigns. But in case of her death, without 
giving, devising, and bequeathing by will, or otherwise selling or 
assigning the said estate, or any part thereof, then I do give, devise, 
and bequeath all such estate, or all such parts thereof as shall so remain 
unsold, undevised or unbequeathed, unto my daugliter, Lady Catha- 
rine Duer, the wife of the Honourable William Duer. Esq., of the 
State of New- York ; To hold the same to her, her executors, admin- 
istrators and assigns. And I do appoint my said dear wife, together 
with my said daughter, Catharine, and my said son-in-law, William 
Duer, Esq., or either of them, executors of this my last will. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 
twenty-ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand 
seven hundred and eighty, and in the fourth year of the Independency 
of the United States in North America. 

STIRLING, [l. s.] 

(endorsed.) 

The within paper writing was signed, scaled, published and de- 
clared, as and for the last Will and Testament of the within named 
testator, by him, in presence of us, who, in his presence, and in the 
presence of each other, subscribe our names as witnesses. 

P. V. B. Livingston. 

W. Barbek. 

W.M. Alex'r Livingsto.n. 



INDEX. 



A. 
Mcrcr(mtbie (of Tulliebody). His Cliarter- 

chesl, 23. 
Alexander (James). Emigrates to America, 1 — 
Cause of his leaving Scotland, ib. — Served 
under the Pretender, 2.— Arrives at New- 
York, ib.— Employed in Si-cretary's office, 
ib.— Appointed t^uiveyer-General of New- 
York and New Jersey, and member of Council 
in N. Y. ib. — Studies and practices law, 3. — 
His success and reputation, ib — Volunt<ers 
to defend Zeiiger, A.— Disbarred in conse- 
quence, ib. — Restored on Death of Governor 
Cosby, 5 — Opposes election of G. Clark, ib. — 
His zealous patriotism, ib. — His death, how 
occasioned, ib. — Distinguished as a man of 
science, ib — With Franklin and others 
founds " American Philosophical Society," 
ib. — Corresp ndence with Halley, ib. — Re 
ported to be presuinplire heir to Earl of Stir- 
ling, 10. 
Alexander (Mrs. James). Widow of David 
Provoost, 6.— Marries J. Alexander, ib. --En- 
gaged in commerce (in her own account, ib. — 
Continues business during his life in her 
separate name, ib.— And alter his death, 
ib — Her death and character, 48. 
Alexander (John). Mis relationship to First 

Earl of Stirling, -23. 
Alexander (William). His birth, 1.— Educa- 
tion, 6. — Taslo for mathematics, ib. — En- 
gages in ccmimerce, ib.— Contracts to supply 
army, 7.— Join.s it an a Commissary, ib.— 
Apponted Aid and Secretary to General Shir- 
ley, ib. — Serves in war of 1756, ib, — Ac- 
companies Shirley to England, 8.— Examined 
as witness at the bar of Hcjuse of Commons, 
ib — His introduction, to eminent men, 9. — 
Repairs to Scotland, 11.— Prefers claims to 
Earldom of Stirling, ib.— Visits Gordon Cas- 
lle, 12.— Hie leiter to P. Grasme. 16.— Serucd 
heir-male to last Eail, 21.— (Question on 
which his claim depended, 24. See " Stirling 
(6th Earl of)." 
Alexander (Sir William). Grant to him of 
Niva Scotia, 19 and 37.— Do. of Long Island, 
37.— Do. of Sagadahock, 38.— Secretary of 
State for Scotland, 4i. See '• Stirling (Ut 
Earl of)." 
Alexandre d'/Ianceke (Compte). His leiter to 
Lord S., 243. 



Amherst (Sir Jeffrey). Marches from New- 
York, 47.— Takes Montreal, 48 —His leiter 
to Lord S ,73. , „. . 

Amherst (William). Brother of Sir Jeflrey A., 
77.— His letter to Lord S., ib. 

Ar^yte (John Duke of). Hereditary friend of 
tfie Alexanders, -2 — 'Great Duke" of Sir 
Walter Scott, ib— Encourages W. Alexan- 
der to claim Earldom of Stirling. 10. 

Armslromr (Gen. John). Commands Pensyl- 
vania Militia at Battle of Germantown, 1(6. 

./9rmseroH5^(Gen. John, the yunger). Son of 
the above, 176.— Notice of him, ib. 

Army (American). Under Lord S. at New- 
York, 139.~Under Washington, arrives 
there, 160.— Its numbers at that time, 161.— 
Defeated at Long Island, 166 —Evacuates 
Now- York, 167,— Kelreats through New Jer- 
sey, 168.— Goes into winter quarters at Mor- 
ristown, ib.— Marches to Germantown. 173. — 
Advances to Wilmington, Del., ib.— Crosses 
the Brandywine, ib.— Engages BrUish, 174.— 
Encamps near Germantown, 175.— Engages 
British, 176.— Encamps at Whitemareh, 

177 Retires to Winter auarters at Valley 

Forge, 179.— Numbers, 194— Cros3"R Dela- 
ware. 195.— Encamps near Monmouth C. 11., 
196.- Engages British, 197 —.Marches to the 
Hudson, crosses, and encamps at \\ hue 
Plains, 198.— Winters at Morrisiown, 206.— 
Adviinces towards New-York, and encamps 
at Dobbs's Ferry, 211.— Under Lord S. ut 
Sara' oga, 226. 
Army (Britii-h). Abandons Boston, 1.50.— Ar- 
rives at New York, 161.— Numbers, ib.— 
C'rosses to Long Island, 162.— Embarks on 
board fleet, 172 —Lands at head of Elk, 
173.— Crosses Brandywine, 174.— Engages 
American. 175 —Encamps at Germanto*n. ih. 
—Engages American, 176— Retires to Phila- 
delphia, 177.— Evacuates it, 195 -Encamps 
near Monmouth C. 11., 196.--Engage3 
American, ih— Retreats to New-York^ l'.*. 
—Under Knyphausen marches from N. l . to- 

i wards Springfield, N. J.,-2.)7.— Burns it and re- 
treats, 208 —Under St. Legor advances from 

I Canada by Lakes Champliin and George, 

i S-^i.— Under Cornwallis surrenders to Gon. 

I Washington, 229 -St. Leg.-r retreats, ib. 

I ,/Jrmj/ (French). Arrival of Kochambeau, 20J. 
—Joins American on Hudson, 211— Iro- 

I ceeds to Virginia, 213. 



268 



INDEX. 



B 

Banks. Long Island, 16C — Bran^lywine, 173. — 
Germ.mtown, 175. — Monmouth, 196. 

Blue Mountain Valley. Captured by Lord Stir- 
ling, 124.— Persons assiaiing in capture, 125. 
— Disposition of her carg •, 126. 

Boudinot CEIisha). His letters to Lord Stir- 
ling, 108, 1.36. 

BouiUe (Miirquis De). Notice of, 248.— Lord 
Stirling's letter to him, ib. 

Bradley (Attorney General of N. Y.). Filus 
inforiDation against Zeng^r, 4. 

Brandywine. Battle of, 173. 

Brearly (Colonel David). His letter to Lord 
Stirling, 245. 

Budd (Dr. Barnabas). Accomplice of S. Ford, 
99. — Condemned to death and pardoned ib. 
See '' Ford, t*amupl." 

Burgoyne (Gen. John). His invasion from 
(^aniida. 172. 

Bitrmct (William). Governor of New York, 2. 
— Notice of, ib. 

Bute (Eiirl of). Encourages W. Alexander to 
claim Earldom of Stirling', 10. 

Butter (Major Pierce). Notice of, &8. 



Canada. M. Gen. Thomas appointeil to com- 
mand expedition to, 137.— Burgoyne'a inva- 
sion IViim, 17'2. 

Cai-michael (Ah'xaiider). Chairman of Morris 
Co. (Committee of Safety, 140 — Lei'erto 
him from Lord Stirling, ib. 

Clark (Abraham). His letter to Lord Stir- 
ling, 193. 

C ark (George) Acting Governor of New 
York, 5. His elieciion opposed by J. Alexan- 
der in Council, ib 

Clarkson (Matihew). Introduced by I,ordf!tir- 
lingto Marquis de Bouille, 249. Notice of, ib. 

Clintun (B. Gen. George). Encamps at Kings- 
bridge with N. Y militia, to join Lord Stir- 
ling, 161. 

Clinton (Sir Henry). Attacks Lord Stirling at 
L. Mand, 162. — Evacuates Phil delphia, 195. 
— Encamps at Jlonmouth C. H , 196.— Loses 
biittle and n t eats, 197. 

C"W<;?j(Dr. Cadwallader). Cho--en member of 
Council by Gov. Curnet, 2. — Principal author 
wiih J. Alexander of Report on Indian 
trade, 5. 

Columbia College. See "King's College." 

Conway Cabal. Account of, 180. See " Con- 
way." 

Conway (M. Gen. 'I homas). Notice of, ISO.- 
His ' Cab.il," ib.— His letter to Gates, 182.— 
Detected by Lord Stirling, ib. — Appninted 
Inspector General, hut resigns, 184.— His duel 
with Cadwallader, 185. — VA'oun ed and re- 
pents, ib.— Returns to France, ib. 

Cooper (Benjamin). Aci omplice of S. Ford, 
99 — Coiidenmed to death and pardoned, ib — 
His letter to Lord Stirling, 101. See " Foid, 
Samuel." 

Cornwallis (Earl). Attacks Lord Stirling at 

L. Island, 102— Attacked by him,ib IG.-i.— 

Advances to the "Short Hills," lt8.— Baffled 
by Lord Sirling, 169 — .Skirmish between 
them near Scotch Plains, 170. — Attacks Lord 
Stirling at Brandywine, 174. — His surrender 
at York, ^29— 940. 

Cosby (liovernoi). His Commissions to N. Y. 
.lodges, 4. Mode of his appointing them, ili. 

Coxc (Daniel). His letter to Lord Stirling, 89. 

Cuxe (William). His letter to Lord Stirling, 
71. — Recommends Mr. Francis, ib. 



D 

Dagge (Henry), Solicitor in London, of W. 

Alexander, 19.— His Utter to H. Diummond, 

56. 
Dayton (Co'onel Elias). Despatched against 

Knyphausen, 2C7. 
Dearborn (Lt. Col. Henry). Succeeds Stark at 

Saratoga, 251. — His letters to Lord Stirling, 

ib., 253, 256. 
Deborre{^. Gen.). His conduct at Brandywine, 

174. — Inquiry on it ordered, ib. — Resigns, ib. 
D''Estaing (Comple). — Arrives with French 

fl. et,199. 
De Lancey (Peter Jan.). Introduced by Lord 

Stirling lo Mr. Hailey, 66. — His letter to 

Lord Stirling, 67. 
Downshire (Marchioness of). Descended from 

Henry, 4th Earl of Stirling, 62— Her Peti- 
tion to the Lords, ib 
Drummond (Henry) Banker and friend of Lord 

Stirlinsr, 5'.— His letter, 54 
Drummond (Lord) Son of Earl of Perth, 94. 

— Visits Americaon his father's bursine-s ib. 

— Gives bis parole to N Y. Committee, 203 — 

His voyage to Bermuda, ib. — Attempts to ne- 
gotiate a peace wiih Gen Washington, ib. 
Daane (James). Notice of, 8. — His letter to 

Lord Stilling, 131. 
Diiane (John). De-ires to enter army, 7. — 

Recommended by L. Morris to Lord Stirling, 

ib. 
Duer (Lady Catharine). Daughter of Lord 

Stirling 8).— Her letter to hin , 201. 
Duer (William). Son-inlaw of Lord Stirling, 

80.— His conduct in reference to -'Conway 

Cabal," 1-3.— His letter to Lord Si irling, 212. 



Elliot (Andrew). Collector of New-York, 200. 
— His politeness to Lady Stirling, 201 

Elliot (Captain). His victory over the French 
Commodore Thurot, 45. 

Enos (B. General). Commands Vermont Mi- 
litia at Castletown, 2-<!l.— His letter to 
Stark, ib. 



Ferguson (Mr.1. Counsel of W. Alexander in 
Edinburgh, 11. —His opinion on claim to 
Earldom, ib. 

Ford (Samuel). Accused of forgery, 97. — Ac- 
count of him, 98.— Escapes from prison, ib — 
Suspected of robbing N J. Treasury. 99. 

Franklin (Benjamin). Unites with J. Alex- 
ander and others, in f 'unding " American 
Philosophical Society," 5. — Sent to England 
by Pennsylvania Assembly, 37. — His conduct 
there, ib. — His letter to Lord Stirling, 159. 

Franklin (William). Governor of Mew Jersey, 
70 — Nitural son of Benjamin F., 80.— His 
appointment not acceptable, ib. — Letters to 
him fiom Lord Stirling, ib, 86, 109 — His 
conduct in reference to robbery of Treasury, 
100.— His lefers to Lt. Col. Winds, 120.— 
His parole required by Lord Stirling, 122.— 
Issues Proclamation for assembling Provin- 
cial Legislature, ib. — Removed from New 
Jersey by order of ('oiigress, ib. — Returns to 
England, ib. — Death and cbaracier, ib. 

G 

Oage (Lt. General Thomas). His letter to 
Lord Stirling, 78 — Notice of him, ib 

Qansevoort (B. General Peter). Commands 
brigade of Militia under Lord Stirling, 229. 



INDEX. 



269 



Oates (M, General Horalio). Engages ia 
•' Conway Cabal," 181. — Appointed Preei- 
(tent of board of War, 1(^4— Challenged by 
Wilkins.n, 1st). — Their interview, and its 
result, 187. 

Oermantuvn (Battle of), n.i. 

Oordun (Duchess ol"). Ilerlu ter to VV. Alex- 
ander. 13. — Notice of her, ih. 

Oiirme (Patrick). His leltur to VV. Alexander, 
14. 

Grant (.M. General). Conunaiids left wing of 
British army at Long Islanil, \6'2. — Lonl 
St rling opposes him, ib — His boast in House 
of Commons, ib. — His conduct to Lady feiir- 
liiig and her daughter, aOd-d. 

Oreeite (M. General Nathanael). Prevented 
by i'lness from taking part in battle of L mg 
Islaiid, 160. — Cummands right wing at iVIoii- 
nioulb, 197. — I'ursues Knyphau.-<Ln from 
Springfield. 208. — His letter to Lord Stirling, 
lb 

Oreiiville (George). Proposes taxing America, 
83. — Notice ol him, ib 



Hamilton (Alexander). His merit discerned by 
Lord Stirling, 136. — Captain of Artillery, 
139.— Aid to General Washington. 181. 

Hamilton (Andrew). Volunteers in defence of 
Zeiiger, 4 — Deputy Governor of Pennsyl- 
vania, 14. —President of that Province, ib. 

Harley (Thomas) His lellei to Lord Stirling, 
66. — Accepts appoialment of Counsel to 
Agent of New-York, ib. 

Haijnes (Samuel). Accomplice of Ford, 99. — 
Condemned to death and pardoned, ib. See 
" Ford Samuel." 

Heatlt{^\. General Jdhn). Commands at West 
Point, 2:!2.— Lord Stirling's letl* r to him, 
233 —His leilnr to Lord Stirling, 248. 

Hollinirswortli (Lt. Col.). His orders from 
Lord Stirling. 170. 

Hopkinsun (Francis). Unites with J. AIi xaii- 
der and others, in founding " American 
Philosophical Society," 5. 

Howe (Lord). Arrives with fleet at New- 
York, IGl. 

Howe (Sir William). Lands his arrny on 
Staten Island. 161. — Cnissis to Long Island, 
162. — Recalls troops from Staten Island, J69. 
— Embarks on board fleet for Chesapeake, 
17-2 — Lands at head of Elk, l73. — Advances 
to Brandy wine, and engages American army, 
ib. — Recalled at liis own request, 194. 

Humphreys (Alexander). His claim to Earl- 
dom of Stirling, 58. — Tried fur forgery, ib. — 
Consults Mdlle. Le Normand, 59. 

I, J 

hard r Ralph). No' ice of, 87. 

Jay (Sir James). Sent to England to solicit 
aid for King's College, 63. — Introduced by 
Lord Stirling to the Ea'l of Bute and Lord 
Roniney,ib, — Knighted by George IH., 64. — 
His success, ib. — His letter to Lord Siirling, 
65. ^ 

Johtiston (Mr.). Counsel in Edinburgh of W. 
Alexander, 11. — His opinion on claim to 
Earldom, ib. 

K 

Kenipe (John Taber). Attorney General of 
New-York. 88.— His letter to Lord Siirling, 
90.— Introduced by L' rd S. to Mr. Wilmot, 
92. 



Kennedy (Capt. Archibald). Afterwards Earl 
of Cassilis, 8S.— Married sister of R. Watts, 
ib.— Set'led in New Jersey, ib —His letter 
to Lord Siirling, 90 — Letter to him from 
Lord Stirling, 'JJ. 

Kinif'x Cvllege. Efforts of Lord Stirling to 
procure endowment for it, 64. 

King {Sohn). Accomplice of S. Ford, 98 — 
Assists him to escajie and accompanies him 
in his flight, ib. 

Kinfjthauden (General). Marches from New- 
York to SpringHrld, N. J., 2U7.— Burns it 
and retreats, 208. 

L 

/.au:u7i (Due de). Fails to arrive nt Morris- 
ani.i in time with liis Legion, 212. 

Lee (M. Gen Charles) His opinion of Lord 
Stirling, 133.— .Made pris<mi^r at Basken- 
ridge,19.i. — Lord Stirling's observaiion upon 
it. ib.— Exchanged, and lakcs purl in baitle 
of Mimmouili, 196.— Ills conduct llidre, ib. — 
Arrested, tried, and fcuspendud, 198. — His 
di'alh. ib. 

Lee (.Major Henry). His expedition to Powles 
Hook, -JOI — Despatclted in pursuit of Knyp- 
hauscn, 908 

Lee (William Philipps). Grandson of former 
Earl ofStirling, 29.— His leltcrto VV. Trum- 
hull, 41.— His letters to Lord Stilling, 42, 43, 
4.5, 48. 

Le JVorm and (Matie Anne). French fortune- 
teller, 59— Con.sulted by Hiiniphreys, ib.~ 
Furiiishes him with fur>;ed documen s, 6», 
61. ' 

Lincoln (M. Gen. Benj imin). Descends Hud- 
son ill boats, and lakes posso.-sion of Har- 
larm Heights 212. 

Livingston (fhiliy, Juii.\ Nephew to Lord 
and Lady Stirling. 67.~Niilice of him, ib. — 
His letters to Lord Stirling, ib., t>7. 

Z.iiii»io-i(fln (William). Brother in law ofLord 
Stirling, 6. — Brigadier General of .Militia, 
129 — Governor ol New Jeisey, ib —His let- 
ter to Lord Stirling, i.'4l). 

Long Island. Granted to 1st Earl of Stirling, 
37.— Battle of, 166. 

M 

Macombrr (Captain E.). Sent to Vermont by 
Lord Stirling, 957. — His insiruciions ib. 

McWtUiams (Major). Aid to Lord Stirling, 
18-', — Repeats lo him Wilkinson's disclosuie 
of " Conway Cabal," ib. 

Maxwell ( B. Gen. William). Commands N.J. 
brigade at Brandywine, 173. — and at Ger- 
mantown, 175 — heceives l^ady Stirling and 
her daugliiei at Elizabcthtou n, 200. 

Mifflin (B. Gen. Tliom is) Engaged in " Con- 
way Cabal," 181. — Appointed moinber of 
Board of War, 184. 

Monckton (Robert). Served under Wolfe, 77. 
-Governor of New- York, ib. — His rtception 
on returning to England, ib. 

Monmouth. Battle of, 196. 

Monroe (Lt. Col. James). Aid to Lord Stir- 
ling, 250.— His letter o him, ih. 

JV/orris (Gouverneiii) His opinion of Zenger's 
case, 5. 

Morris (Lewis, Jun.). His letter lo VV. Alex- 
ander, 7. — Recdnimends John Duann, ib. 

Morris (Robert II.). t liii f Justiou of New 
Jcisey, 9 — Governor of Pennsylvania ib. — 
Uiiiti.'S in peisuiding W. Alexaniler loclaiin 
Earldom, 10— His letters lo Lord Stirling. 
71, 79. 



270 



INDEX. 



Morris (Staats L ). A native of New- York, 
12. — Served under Shirley, with W. Alex- 
ander, ib. — Married Duchess Dowager of 
Gordon, ib. — His letter to W. Alexander, ib. 
— Ordered to India, 56. 

N 

jVash (B. General). Killed at Germantown, 
177. 

Jfewcastle (Duke of). Advises Lord Stirling 
to petition, 35. 

JVova Scotia. Granted to 1st Earl of Stirling, 
37. — Claimed under C. Delatour, ib— Re- 
gained from French, ib. 



O 

Ogden (Robert). Chairman of Elizabethtown 
Committee of Safety, 128 — Letters to him 
from Lord Stirling, ib. — His letter to Lord 
Stirling, 133. 

Oa-den (Samuel). His controversy with Lord 
Stirling, 104.— His letters, ib, 1 5, 106. 107. 
— His advertisement. 111. 



Pahr.er (The Rev. George). Applies for, and 
receives appointment of Chaplain to Lord 
StirliniT, 29. 

Pcnn (John) A Prnprietary of Pennsylvania, 
10. — Persuades W. A'exatider to claim 
Earldom, ib. — His letter to Lord Stirling, 
69. 

Perm (Thomas). A Proprietary of Pennsyl- 
vania, 10.— Persuades W. Alexander to 
claim Earldom, ib. 

Perth (Earl ol ). A Proprietary of East-Jer- 
sey, 94. — His misunderstanding with Lord 
Stirling, ib. 

Porteotts (The Rev. James). Married an Alex- 
ander, 23. — Usefulness to W. Alexander, ib. 
His character, ib. — His letter to Lord Stir- 
ling, 27. 

Pringle {"SU.). Counsel in Edinburgh for W. 
Alexander, 11. — His opinion on claim to 
Earldom, ib. — Created a Judge, and takes 
title of Lord Alemoor, 22. 

Provoost (David). His soubriquet, how ac- 
quired, 6. See " Ready-money Provoost." 

Putnam (M . Gen. Israel). Commands on Long 
Island, 166.— His orders to Lord Stirling, 
ib. 

R 

Race (Joh.innos). Family servant of J. Alex- 
ander, 68. — His letter to Lord Stirling, 69. 

" Ready-money Provoost." See " Provoost, 
David." 

Reynolds (David). Accomplice of S. Ford, 99- 
— (,'ondemned to death and executed, ib. See 
" Ford, Samuel " 

Richartbson (Joseph). Accomplice of S. Ford, 
98. — Escapes with him from prison, ib. See 
" Ford, Samuel." 

Rochambeaii (Conipte de). Arrives in America 
with Frinch arniy, 2(i9 — His interview with 
Gen. Washington, 210. — Joins him with lii.a 
army, 211. 

Rogers (Major Robert) Commands New 
Hampshiie Rangers, 94. — His exploits, ib. 

Romney (Lord). President of Society for en- 
couragement of Arts, &c., 63. — Letter to him 
irom Lord Stirling, ib. 

Ramsey (Colonel). His ktter to Lord Stirling, 
172. 



RiLlherfurd (Walter) Brother in-law of Lord 
Stirling, 6.— Informs him of repeal of Stamp- 
.\ct, 83. — Receives Lady Stirling and her 
daughter at New- York, 200. 



SactviWe (Lord George). His trial, 44. — Found 
guilty aid cashiered, ib. — Created a Viscount 
and appointed Secretary of State, ib. — His 
death, ib. 

Sagadahock (in Canada). Granted to Ist Earl 
of Stirling, 38. — Agreement respeciing it be- 
tween Lord Stirling and Messrs. Trumbull 
and Lee, 36, 44. 

Schuyler (M. Gen. Philip). Commands Middle 
Depanment, 131. — His letters to Lord Stir- 
ling. 148 — 155 — Accompanies Lord Stirling 
to Saratoga, 240. 

Shelburne {Em\ of). Letter to him from Lord 
Stirling, 74. — Notice of him, ib. 

Shirley (General). Commander-in chief in 
America, 7. — Appoints W. Alexander his Aid 
and Secretary, ib. — His plans defeated, 8 — 
Keturns to England, ib. — Persuades W. Al- 
exander to prefer claim to Earldom, 10. 

" Short-HMs" Affair of, K8. 

Skinner (Stephen). Treasurer of New Jersey, 
97. — Reports robbery thereof to Governor, ib. 
— Declared by Assembly that through his 
neglect it happened, ib. — Takes meai-ures to 
exculpate himself, ib. — Charged as party to 
robbery, 100. — Resigns, ib. — Appointed mem- 
ber of Council, ib. — Adheres to Crown at 
Revolution, 101. 

Smi'tA (William the Elder). Came to America 
in same ship with James Alexander, 3. — 
Volunteers with him to defend Zenger, 4. — 
Disbarred in consequence, ib. — Restored on 
death of Gov. Cosby, 5. 

Smith (William the Younger). Historian of 
New York. 2 — His character of J. Alexan- 
der, 3. — Lord Stirling's letter to him, 95. 

Smi<A (Lt. Col. W. S ). Notice of 249 —In- 
troduced bv Lord Stirling to Marquis Bouille, 
ib. 

Springfield (N. J.). Burnt by British, 208. 

Stamp-Act Proposed by G. Gtenville, 83. — Its 
execution opposed by Lord Stirling, ib. — Its 
repeal, ib. 

Stark (B. Gen. John). Commands post at Sar- 
atoga, 214. — His letters to Lord Stirling, ib., 
217, 219, 221, 223, 230, 236. 

St. Croix. Granted to 1st Earl of Stirling, 38. 
— See " Sagaduhock." 

Stephen (M. Genera]). Cashiered for miscon- 
duct, 177. 

Stirling (Henry, 3rd Earl of). Conveys Long 
Island to Duke of York, 37. — Sagadahock, 
how included in grant, 38. 

Stirling (Henry, 5th Earl oQ Died in 1737. 
One of his daughters married Sir W. Trum- 
bull, the other to Mr. Lee, 29. — Grandfather 
to W. Trumbull and W. P. Lee, 45. 

Stirfmn- (William, 1st Earl of). His rights^in 
America, 37. — Grant to him of Long Island, 
38. — His possession under it, ib. See " Al- 
exander, Sir William." 

Stirling (William, 6th Earl of). His descent, 
24. — Object in claiming Earldom, 27. — His 
letters to A. Stuart, 18,34, 46.— Thinks of 
settling in Scotland, 28. — Hires house in 
London, 30. — Petitions Crown to confirm 
Title, 35. — Agreement with Messrs. Trum- 
bull and Lee, 36. — Returns to America, 49. 
— Commences building at Baskcnridge, 50. — 



INDEX. 



271 



Removes to New Jersey, ib.— Chosen mem- 
ber of Council, ib. — ("orresponds with his 
friends in Great liritain, 51 — His letters to 
the Earl of Bute, ili., 64. — Ills occupations, 
85. — His letter to Lord Romncy, 63.— To the 
Earl of Shelburne, 74. — His letters to Gi'v. 
Franklin, 87, llli— His letter to J. T. 
Kempe,91.— To H, Wilmot, 99.— To Capt. 
Kennedy, 93. — Gives up winter residence 
in New-York, 97. — His controversy with 
Col. S. Ofjden, 104. — His letters to him, 
105, 107, 108. — His conduct upon the taxa- 
tion of the Colonics, 113. — Chosen to com- 
mand regiment of Militia, ib. — Conduct of 
Governnr Franklin thereupon, ib. — Appoint- 
ed to command 1st N. J regiment of Conti- 
nental troops, 114. — His letters to the Pres- 
ident of Congress, 116, 118, 119, 121, 126, 
129, 132, 148.— Suspects Gov. Franklin of a 
design to escape, 119. — Exacts his parole 
12-2. — Plans exp<'dition from Elizabethtown, 
and captures a British Transport, 124.— Re- 
solution of Congre.ss thereupon, ib. — His 
letter to Robert Ojiden 128.— Promoted to 
be Brigidier General, 130. — His letter from 
President of Congress, 130. — Commands at 
New- York, 133. — His operations, 134- — His 
letter to Col. VYatd, 135. — Discerns merit 
of Hamilton, 138. — His letters to Gen. 
Schuyler, 137, 151. — His force at New- 
York, 140. — His letter to A. Carmichael, ib. 
—To Gov. Trumbull, 141.— To Gen. Wash- 
ington, 144, 163, 207, 237.— His ''Regula- 
tions" at New-York, 145. — Repairs to New 
Jersey to prepare for its defence, 156. — His 
letter to S. Tucker, 157.— To B. Gen. Liv- 
ingston. 158. — Commands again at New- 
York, 160. — Constructs fortifications for its 
defence, ib. — Commands light wing at Bat- 
tle of L. Island, 162. — Encounters Gen. 
Grant, ib. — Attacked in rear by Cornwallis, 
163. — Secures retieat of detachment, ib. — 
Made prisoner, ib. — His conduct approved, 
ib. — Highly commended by Washington, 166. 
— Exchanged for Gov. Brown, 163. — Rejoins 
army in New Jersey, 168 — Ordered to the 
Delaware, ib. — Then to watch British at 
Princeton, 169. — Pronsoted to be Major Gen- 
eral, ib. — Advances to support paitics on 
lines, ib. — Encounters Cornwallis and com- 
pelled to retreat, 170.- Seizes upon passes 
and prevents his advance, ib. — His letter 
to Col. Hollingsworth, ib.— Detached with 
his division to the Hudson, 173. — Recal ed, 
173. — Marches with army to Gerniantoun, 
ib. — Thence to Wilmington, ib. — Retires 
with it to Brandywine, ib.— Battle of Bran- 
dywine, 174 -Conduct of Lord Stirling, ib. 
Battle of Germantown, 175 —Commands 
Reserve, ib. — Gen. Sullivan's acrount, 176. 
— Lord Stirling's plan for attack of Philadel- 
phia, 178- — Deiects -^ Comcay Cabal," 180, 
182. — His correspondence witli Wilkinson, 
188. — Commands left wing at .Monmouth, 
197. — His conduct therein, ib. — Presides at 
Court Martial upon Gen Lee, li)8.— Order- 
ed to take cnminand in New Jersey, 204 — 
Marches to Pompton Plains, 204. — Detaches 
Major H. Leo to Powlrs Hook, 205.— Sup- 
ports his expedition, and covers liis retreat, 
ib. — Receives thanks of Congress, 206.- His 
expedition to Staten Island, ib. — Reinforces 
Gen. Greene at Springfield, 208.— His opin- 
ion in Council of War, 209 Ordered to 

Albany to command Northern Dcpaitincnt, 



214.— Orders troops to Saratoga, 215. — His 
letters to Stark. 216, 220, 22.3, 229,'.;3U. 235. 
— Repairs to Saratoga, 224. — Issues orderof 
battle, 226.— Prepares to act offensively, 
229 —His letters to Col. Willet, 23.i, 235 — 
To M. Gen. Heiith, 233.— Attempt to make 
him prisoner defeated, 242. — Ordfred to 
take command in New Jersey, 243— Es- 
tablislies liis headquarters at Philudelphia, 
within his district, 245.— Ordered to Fishkill 
to preside at Board of Officers, 247. — Order- 
ed to command of Northern Department, 
249.— His letter to Capt. Maconiber, 257. — 
His illness and drath, 25'<. -Resolution of 
Congress, 259 — Letter of condolence from 
Gen Washingt.m to his widow, ib. — His 
character, 260. 

Stirlinrr (Countess of). Visits her daughter 
at New-York, 200. — Her letter to Lord 
Stirling, ib. 

St. Leger (Colonel). Advances from Canada 
to Lake George, 222.— Retreats, 229. 

Sltiarl (Andrew). Writer in Edinburgh, 11 
— Emjiloycd by W. Alexander, to prosecute 
claim to Earldom, ib.— His standing in socie- 
ty, 18. — His letters to W.Alexander, 19, '.^1. 
30, 32, 40. 

Sulliran (.M. Gen. John). Hispoi-ition at Bat- 
tle of Long Island, 166 — His account of it, 
ib— His letter to Lord Stirling, 2.04. 

T. 

Tfrnai/ (Chevalier de). Anives with French 
fleei,209. — His interview with Gen. Wash- 
ington, yio, 

Thomas (M. G. John). Appointed to com- 
mand in Ciinada, 137. 

Tliamiison (Mr ). Writer in Crief, 25.— Em- 
ployed by Stewart on behalf of W. Alexan- 
der, ib. — Attends service, ib. 

Thompson (Brig. Gen. William). Takes com 
mand at New York, 145. — Ordered to Cana- 
da, 160. 

Towvshciid (Charles). His letter to W. .\'ex- 
ander, 9— Pertuades him to prefer claim to 
Earldom, 10. — Gives saiisfac ion as Chan- 
cellor of the Exchequer, 55. 

T'rea.-iir?/ of New Jersey. Rubbery of, 97. See 
'• Ford, Samuel," " Skinner, Stephen." 

Troup (Col. Itohert). Aid to Gen. Gates, 186. 

Trumbull, (Jonalhiin). Governor of Coiiuecli- 
cut, 141.— Lord Stirling's letter to him, ib. — 
His letter t*o Lord S.. 1.53. 

'/VumfciiH (William). N<itice of, 29.— His let- 
ters to Lord Stirling, 28. 29, 42, 1.5.3. 

TAwrot (Commodore). His engagement with 
Elliot's Squadn ii, and death, 4.'>. 

Tucher (Samuel). Chairniiin N. J. Committee 
of Safely, 167.— Lord Stirling's letter to him, 
ib. 

V. 

Van Rensselaer (Brig. Gen. James). Com- 
mands brigade of militia under Lord Stil- 
ling, 229. 

W. 
Wulbridire (Colonel). His letter to Gen. Stark, 

222 
/furrf (Colonel). Statinned with his regiment 

on Long Island, 135. — His orders from Lord 

Stirling, ib. 
IVashinirton (General). His letters to Lord 

Stirling. 123, 143, 1.50, 194 —Arrives with 

army at New-York, 160. — Evacuates it, 167. 

— Proposes exchange ofjjord Stirling, ib. — 



272 



INDEX. 






His retreat into New Jersey, 168 — Encamps 
at Mornstown, ib. — Reassembles army at 
Middlebrook, 169. — Advances to Quibble- 
town, lb. — Concerts plan for attacking New- 
York, 209, 211. — Advances to Valentine's 
Hill, 212.— Plan f.ir attacking New- York, 
again f rmed and abandoned, 213. — Proceeds 
wiih army to Virginia, ib. See " Army, 
American." 

fToHi (Lady Mary). Daughter of Lord Stir- 
ling, 8(1. 

JFaMs (Robert). Son-in-law of Lord Stirling, 
80. — Remains in New- York during Revolu- 
tionary war, 199. 

fVayne (M. Gon. Anthony). His conduct at 
Germantown. 175 — At Monmouth, 197. 

JVedderburn (Alexander). Counsel of W. Al- 
exander, 11. — Account of, ib. — His opinion 
in favor of claim to Earldom, ib. 

Jfllkinson (Colonel James). Reveals " Conway 



Cabal," IS-l. — Appointed Secretary of Board 
of War, 18.5.— His conduct to Gates, 187.— 
His correspondence with Lord Stirling, 1;8. 
— Appointed Clothier General, ib, 

Wdlel (Lieut. Col. Marinus). Detached west- 
ward from Albany, 220. — His attack near 
Johnstown, '229. — His defeat and pursuit of 
the enemy, 230. 

JVilmot (Henry). His letter to Lord Stirling, 
84. 

Winds (Lieut. Col. William). His letters to 
Gov. Franklin, 120, 121. 

Wiiher^poon (Dr. John). His sarcasm upon 
Wilkmson, 182. 

Z. 

Zertger (Peter). His trial, 4 — Defended by J. 
Alexauder, and W. Smiih, ib. — His acquittal 
ib. — Importance of his case, 5. 



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